Proposed Cybersecurity Law Could Backfire on Govt, Editors’ Council Offers 12 Recommendations

The Editors’ Council has made 12 recommendations to safeguard press freedom and legitimate expression under the proposed Cyber Security (Amendment) Act, while Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has warned that the legislation could backfire on the government by restricting freedom of speech and concentrating power.

The recommendations were submitted to the office of Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed on Sunday for forwarding to the information and broadcasting minister. The statement was signed by Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud.

The Editors’ Council said the proposed law must clearly distinguish between cyber security, cybercrime and journalism in the digital space. It expressed concern that the existing provisions failed to establish clear boundaries between these areas, potentially undermining independent journalism, public-interest reporting and media freedom.

The council’s 12 recommendations include explicit legal safeguards for journalism and legitimate expression; judicial approval before law enforcement action against journalists; separate definitions of misinformation, disinformation and rumours; and clear protection for public-interest journalism.

It also called for a clear distinction between government criticism, political speech and cybercrime, alongside transparency and judicial oversight in content removal and blocking decisions. The council urged lawmakers to clarify the boundaries between defamation and insult, prohibit the use of mobile courts and executive powers in journalism-related cases, and prevent media organisations from being punished for an individual’s reporting.

Other recommendations include protecting the confidentiality of journalists’ sources, strengthening the Press Council’s role in resolving professional disputes involving journalism and the media, and establishing a National Cyber Security Council capable of independent, inclusive oversight and accountability.

The council said any law addressing cybercrime must ensure transparency, judicial supervision, accountability and effective remedies against arbitrary action. It urged the government to reconsider the proposed legislation after consulting all relevant stakeholders, stressing that a secure digital environment and a free media were not mutually exclusive.

At a roundtable discussion on the proposed law held at TIB’s office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, on Sunday, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the legislation could become a “boomerang” for the government.

The meeting was organised by TIB, BRAC, BLAST, the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and 15 other organisations, bringing the total number of participating organisations to 19.

Iftekharuzzaman said the proposed law appeared more focused on consolidating power and controlling freedom of expression than on addressing cybercrime. He urged the government to abandon this approach, warning that the legislation could ultimately prove self-defeating.

He also questioned whether misinformation and disinformation could be controlled effectively through legislation alone. According to him, meaningful action would require cooperation with digital platforms, which generate substantial profits from the spread of false information, as well as stronger accountability for those platforms.

Criminalising people’s rights in the name of preventing false information was not justified, he said.

Newspapers Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) President and Manabzamin Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury also voiced concerns about the proposed legislation, warning that governments seeking to restrict criticism could themselves become victims of such laws after losing power.

“Please do not tie our hands again. If you tie our hands, it will harm you. I will no longer be able to write for you. One day, you will have to come back to us,” he said.

He stressed that political power was not permanent and urged the government to consider the long-term consequences of legislation. Criticism of the government was inevitable in a democratic society, he said, adding that failing to distinguish criticism from cybercrime would create serious risks.

Chowdhury also questioned provisions that could allow a newspaper or online news outlet to be shut down over an offence committed by an individual. He warned that political influence could affect the enforcement of the law, potentially allowing local ruling-party leaders to influence arrests.

He further questioned how authorities would determine what constituted false information, warning that reports could be labelled misinformation or defamatory simply because someone disliked their content. He called for clear criteria to establish whether the dissemination of false information was intentional.

Opposing the proposed use of mobile courts to try journalists, he questioned how a mechanism used to prosecute offences such as the production of adulterated medicines could be considered appropriate for judging journalists in a democratic society.

Other participants included Dhaka Union of Journalists President Md Shahidul Islam, Daily Wada Editor Shafiqul Alam and Tech Global Institute Bangladesh Head Fouzia Afroz.

Both the Editors’ Council and TIB called for a more balanced approach that addresses cybercrime without undermining freedom of expression, independent journalism and public accountability.