The Information and Communication Technology Department has amended the draft Cyber Security Ordinance-2025 by making blackmailing or revenge porn an offence. The new draft adds more than a dozen definitions related to cyber security. 9 controversial clauses have been omitted. 4 offenses made non-bailable.
These things were announced at the press conference on Cyber Security Ordinance in the conference room of the Secretary of ICT Department at Agargaon in the capital today.
ICT Advisor Sheesh Haider Chowdhury said in a press conference that these changes have been brought after the draft of Cyber Security Ordinance was finalized with the advice of various civil societies of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
Section 25 deals with revenge porn—if a person intentionally or knowingly posts on a website or any other digital or electronic medium any information, obscene video images, audio visual images, still images, graphics intended to sexually harass or blackmail another person through revenge porn. or transmit any such data that is captured, edited, generated by artificial intelligence or edited and displayed in any other way, Publishes or publishes, or threatens to send, publish or publish, he shall be guilty of an offence. This crime carries a maximum imprisonment of two years and a maximum fine of Tk 20 lakh.
Blackmailing is defined as threats or intimidation by which a person forces another person to perform an illegal benefit, service or purpose by fearing the disclosure or loss of confidential information.
To ensure the transparency and accountability of the Ordinance, opinions can be given online on this Ordinance till February 6. Opinions should be given [email protected] And [email protected] at the e-mail address.
In the press conference, Shish Haider Chowdhury said that if anyone still has any complaint about the ordinance, if they tell it, there is an opportunity to amend and modify it before the law is passed. The Ordinance is intended to be non-prescriptive in protecting the vast cyber space in the country. But it can be updated regularly in the spirit of reform.
Among the 9 sections repealed in the amended draft Ordinance are—Section 20 on offenses and penalties relating to alteration of computer source code; Article 21 punishes the liberation war, the spirit of the liberation war, hatred, confusion and slanderous propaganda about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; Section 24: Impersonation or impersonation; 25 Offensive, false or intimidating, transmission of information, publication etc.; Article 26 Penalties for collection, use, etc. of identity information without permission; publication, dissemination, etc. of defamatory information; warrantless search, seizure and arrest; Section 29 publication, dissemination etc. of defamatory information; Section 31 Offenses and penalties for disturbing law and order, etc.; Section 32 deals with hacking offenses and penalties and Section 55 deals with delegation of powers to the Director General.
Faiz Ahmed Tayyeb, ICT Department Policy Adviser and ICT Additional Secretary Kamrun Nahar Siddiqa were also present in the press conference.
Faiz Ahmed Tayyeb said that all arrangements have been made to ensure that the ordinance is not restrictive. The definition of cyber security encompasses the ever-present connectivity of the internet, the formation of national cyber security, the individual as well as the potential future. For the first time, the Act criminalizes 'revenge porn'. Controversial issues are carefully defined in the choice of words.
