Bangladesh’s Cyber Security Act

A Guide for Civil Society, Media and the Public

PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2024

In 2023, the Government of Bangladesh enacted the Cyber Security Act (CSA) to regulate data security and activities online. The CSA replaced the controversial Digital Security Act 2018 (DSA), criticized by many domestic and international stakeholders as repressive, particularly for freedom of expression online.

The stated purpose of Bangladesh’s Cyber Security Act of 2023 is to repeal the Digital Security Act, 2018 and to ensure cyber security by identifying, preventing, suppressing and prosecuting offences committed through digital or electronic means. The CSA retains much of the regulatory framework of the former DSA but has reduced the severity of most penalties.

The CSA has come under scrutiny for its similarity to the DSA, which was criticized for many provisions that violate international standards governing the freedom of expression, as well as its implementation, which has been marked by extensive use against journalists, civil society activists, and those critical of the government. Concerns abound that the CSA will continue to restrict the freedom of expression online and curtail the right to privacy.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide an overview of the Cyber Security Act 2023 and its key provisions, as well as its application. The handbook also strives to provide a barometer of how the CSA measures up to international law governing the freedom of expression and other civic freedoms. Finally, because of the similarities between the previous DSA and the current CSA, this handbook contains some discussion on how the DSA has been implemented and its impact on civil society.

OBJECTIVES

  • To raise awareness among civil society, media actors and the public of the contents of the Cyber Security Act 2023;
  • To empower individuals, civil society and media actors to navigate the legal framework effectively.