As news media hinted of an upcoming Facebook ban for six hours from every midnight, leading to an explosion of speculations on social media, the BTRC on Monday said blocking Facebook would not only be difficult, but would also not be conducive towards attaining the government’s end goals.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission stated that irrespective of a Facebook block, users would simply resort to using VPNs or proxy servers. It also said a ban would make it difficult to communicate with friends and family living abroad.
Most importantly, the BTRC opted against the block since it would cause massive losses for all the e-commerce businesses operating through Facebook.
In July 2016, at the Deputy Commissioners Conference, a proposal was floated by deputy commissioners to place a six-hour ban on Facebook.
A year later, on March 28, sources at the Ministry of Home Affairs said the government was planning to block Facebook for a few hours every night to help curb terrorism and militant activities.
Within the same week, the Cabinet Division sent a letter to the Posts and Telecommunications Division, suggesting that Facebook should be blocked from midnight to 6am as it was hampering the productivity of students.
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The letter also suggested a complete ban on the broadcasting of cartoons on cable television as “children watch the shows late into the night, which results in a stunting of their physical and psychological growth.” The Cabinet Division also approached the Information Ministry and the Information and Communication Technology Division, seeking implementation development reports on their proposal, but did not receive any responses. “The cabinet has forwarded a letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) this (Monday) morning, seeking our opinion on the proposal,” BTRC Secretary Sarwar Alam told the Dhaka Tribune on Monday afternoon. When questioned, the Posts and Telecommunications Division said the government has not taken “final decision” regarding the matter. The BTRC sent a proposal to the Cabinet Division in the evening, suggesting four measures to control students’ and youths’ use of Facebook. Proposal 1 suggests enforcing and increasing security and privacy features, including parental control to restrict students’ engagement in Facebook and mobile internet. Proposal 2 involves parents opening separate accounts for their underage children on the internet. Proposal 3 would have educational institutions and media create awareness about the proper and positive use of Facebook and internet. Proposal 4 encourages intensive parent-child engagement to teach them how to use Facebook and internet properly.
