The concerns raised by rights organizations and media advocates over the proposed changes to the Cyber Protection Act, 2026, deserve serious consideration. We agree that the government must recognize that any legislation intended to protect cyberspace must not become a tool for silencing dissent.
The proposed provisions concerning defamation, maligning, rumours, and misinformation are particularly worrying because vague definitions can easily be misused. When the law leaves too much room for interpretation, legitimate criticism, investigative journalism, and public-interest reporting may become grounds for legal harassment.
The possibility of arbitrary content restrictions and punitive action against media outlets makes these concerns even more pressing.
Bangladesh has already witnessed how cyber laws can be weaponized against journalists, critics, and ordinary citizens. We cannot allow a new legal framework to reproduce the same failures under a different name.
Changing governments must also mean changing the practices that undermine democratic rights. Otherwise, promises of reform amount to little more than rhetoric.
There is, of course, a need to address genuine cybercrime, online harassment, and other harmful activities, but these objectives must be pursued through clearly defined offences, due process, independent oversight, and meaningful safeguards for freedom of expression.
The government must consult journalists, legal experts, civil society organizations, and digital rights advocates before advancing legislation that affects the fundamental rights of millions.
More importantly, any and all further attempts to stifle our freedom of speech must be dealt with promptly and decisively. This requires more than assurances that a law will not be misused -- it requires enforceable protections, transparent procedures, and accountability whenever authorities overstep their powers.
Freedom of expression is not a privilege granted by those in power. It is a fundamental right that allows citizens to question authority and hold institutions accountable.
It's time the government shows us that it understands this distinction. We cannot keep repeating the same mistakes at the cost of our freedom of speech.
