STAFF CORRESPONDENT

If the proposed regulation for the digital, social media and over-the-top (OTT) platforms is enforced, there will be a risk of Bangladesh becoming a “surveillance-based” country, Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said yesterday.

Addressing a virtual press conference, the TIB boss said the proposed regulation largely contradicts the government’s high-profile goal which is to build a Digital Bangladesh.

TIB organised the conference to brief the media about its position on the draft “Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Regulation for Digital, Social Media and OTT Platforms-2021”.

The government published the first draft of the regulation in February for comments on it from different stakeholders.

The graft watchdog raised concerns over a number of clauses in the draft regulation, stressing the need for bringing significant changes to them before going for the enforcement.

According to clause 6.01 (d) of the draft regulation, either BTRC or a court with competent jurisdiction can issue a content removal request on grounds related to sovereignty, integrity or security of the country, decency or morality, friendly relationship with foreign countries, or defamation, TIB said in its comments on the regulation.

An intermediary must remove the content promptly, but in any event within 72 hours. Fundamentally, this requirement raises several concerns, it said.