New Law to Crack Down on AI-Powered Defamation

The government is planning to introduce a new law to protect citizens from humiliation, harassment and harm caused by the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) on social media, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said.

The minister also assured journalists that their concerns over the proposed amendments to the cyber law would be taken seriously. He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after an event at the Supreme Court auditorium on Tuesday.

Asaduzzaman said consultations with stakeholders on the proposed cyber law were ongoing. Although people from different professions had expressed mixed views, there was broad agreement on the need for effective legal protection against online harassment and harm caused by AI.

He said various parties had offered different opinions on the proposed law’s wording and provisions. The government would review these views before making a final decision and then proceed with the matter in Parliament following the necessary procedures.

The minister made it clear that the proposal was still at an early stage. “It is still at a raw stage. It is at the primary stage. We have not yet reached the final drafting stage,” he said. He noted that the rapid spread of technology had made people’s lives easier, but the misuse of AI had also created new concerns. AI-generated or manipulated images, videos and other content could be used to humiliate people publicly, damage their reputations, or harm their personal and professional lives.

Emphasising the need to protect people from such misuse, Asaduzzaman said public consultations on the cyber law had revealed agreement among different groups on the need for legal safeguards against harassment and harm caused by AI on social media.

However, he stressed that the government must carefully determine the language, scope and provisions of the law to ensure that the safeguards were properly applied. The government would take further steps after reviewing stakeholders’ opinions and preparing a final draft.

Addressing journalists’ concerns about the proposed legislation, the minister said the government would take their concerns into account. He assured them that they should not face unnecessary fear or uncertainty while performing their professional duties.

Asaduzzaman said the government would move forward by considering the concerns raised by journalists and that there was no reason for them to be afraid. He also acknowledged past experiences of the misuse of cyber-related laws. According to the minister, the government would consider the misuse of the Digital Security Act and the controversial misuse of Section 57 when deciding on the new legislation.

He said the government must learn from previous laws that faced criticism over their misuse. Ensuring that journalists do not face unreasonable restrictions or anxiety while carrying out their professional responsibilities would be a key consideration.

Earlier, the minister attended an internship programme for law students at the Supreme Court auditorium as the chief guest. The programme was jointly organised by the Attorney General’s Office and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).