CPJ: Cyber security law threatens media freedom

CPJ issued a statement in this regard on Wednesday. "Proposed cyber-crime legislation, if passed, would have a stifling effect on media freedom in Bangladesh," said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative. He said: "The draft law's language dangerously conflates cyber-crime with fair critical comment. We strongly urge parliament to reject the bill and ensure that any future version includes clearly defined press freedom and freedom of expression guarantees." The cabinet led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the Digital Security Act 2016 on August 22. The bill is pending in parliament. The draft has passed with a provision of life imprisonment and Tk1-crore fine for anyone spreading propaganda against the Liberation War and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on electronic media. The draft also proposed maximum 14 years and minimum two years in prison, or a fine of Tk1 crore, or both for cyber crimes and cyber terrorism. The law has been formulated in order to curb cyber crime in the country.