The criminal world of dreaded terrorists is known as the “Underworld”. This realm used to be controlled by top-tier criminals. There was a time when this underworld did not just control the criminal landscape; it exerted influence over politics and the economy as well. When those in power clashed with the underworld, the country became unstable. Many businessmen paid extortion money out of fear, while others reached compromises just to conduct business safely. But those days of the underworld are gone. That horrific form of the criminal world has now been assumed by the Cyber World. Cybercrime has become even more terrifying than the traditional underworld.
Social media is now the greatest enemy of people’s social security – a silent killer. Due to cyberbullying, many individuals are choosing the path of suicide. Lives are being shattered, and countless people are being defrauded. Yet, there is no law to prevent this. As a result, social media platforms have become a primary cause of public panic. Due to unregulated social media, some people are becoming increasingly violent. Previously, people would hire terrorists to crush opponents or use goons to intimidate others; physical muscle power was the primary tool for suppressing dissent. Now, cyber terrorists are in higher demand than armed terrorists.
Today, to harass a woman, acid is not thrown at her; instead, she is attacked with foul language on Facebook or YouTube.
A study has shown that 90% of female social media users in Bangladesh are victims of cyberbullying. According to police records, between March of last year and March of the current year, 127 women committed suicide due to cyberbullying. They took their own lives, unable to endure various types of obscene and vulgar verbal attacks. However, no action has been taken against those who insulted these women on social media. This is how the terrorism of rumors and lies continues on social media.
Harassing women is not the only work of cybercriminals; rather, it is the small-scale cyber terrorists involved in such acts. The “big” cyber terrorists are committing even larger crimes. The are destroying the country’s economy with public declarations. The private sector is considered the main architect of Bangladesh’s economic development, but today, due to cyber terrorists, the private sector is helpless and disoriented.
An organised circle is using social media to target businessmen, industrialists, and entrepreneurs, demanding large sums of money. If the money isn’t paid, a coordinated attack begins. By spreading false and baseless content one after another, they attempt to demean them not just mentally, but socially. Eventually, they demand hefty ransoms from these industrialists.
Many businessmen, panicked and seeking to protect their reputations, surrender helplessly to these cyber extortionists.
Those who are honest and brave do not surrender to this injustice, but they have to pay a heavy price. Just as people once compromised with the dark underworld to save their lives, they now navigate by compromising with cyber terrorists.
Despite the existence of laws and courts in the country, cybercriminals seem to be above the law. Judges are afraid to take up cases against them, and the government lacks the courage to take action. They have become so reckless that they no longer fear spreading distasteful and heinous content against the head of government and their family. They are now a massive threat to the administration of the state.
Much like the underworld of the past, the cyber world is increasingly becoming the controller of politics.
Cyber terrorists are not sparing minority communities, shrines, or religious sites – even sensitive issues like the Liberation War are being targeted with misinformation.
Is spreading distorted images or running smear campaigns against individuals truly a part of “freedom of expression”?
International law provides a simple but vital guideline here. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948) states that everyone has the right to hold opinions and express them.
Simply put, what you think and say is your fundamental right.
But it doesn’t end there. Article 19(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966) states that exercising these rights carries special duties and responsibilities.
If necessary, these rights can be restricted by law if they harm the reputation of others or threaten national security or public order. In short, you have the right to expression, but it does not include “saying whatever you want”.
The UN Human Rights Committee, in its General Comment No. 34 (2011), clarified this further. It states that what you say has an impact – not just on you, but on others. Therefore, when speaking, one must consider whether it causes harm. If a statement destroys someone’s reputation or incites people, it can no longer be classified as simple freedom of expression.
These concepts didn’t appear out of thin air; they are backed by the harsh lessons of history. During World War II, the Nazi regime in Germany used false propaganda to turn an entire population into “enemies”. Following that horrific experience, the international community decided that while people must be given the right to speak, that right must not be used to spread hatred or destruction.
In today’s reality, especially in the age of social media, that same risk has resurfaced. The only difference is that while propaganda used to take time to spread, it now reaches millions in minutes.
Beyond laws, there are several court rulings on this matter. In 2006, the popular Estonian online news portal Delfi published a report criticising a ferry company’s business decisions.
Naturally, readers began commenting below. The problem arose when some comments became highly insulting and threatening. Delfi did not remove them initially. When the aggrieved party went to court, Delfi argued they weren’t responsible as they hadn’t written the comments. However, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) disagreed. The court ruled that a large platform like Delfi had a responsibility to regulate such harmful content. Because they failed to take action despite being aware, the platform was held liable.
With this reality in mind, the European Union introduced the Digital Services Act (DSA) 2022. This forces major social media platforms to work proactively to reduce fake news, hate speech, and social risks. Germany went a step further with the Network Enforcement Act (NetzDG), which mandates that clearly illegal content must be removed within 24 hours, or the platforms face heavy fines.
These examples tell us that unregulated social media cannot continue.
However, it is a painful truth that there is no effective law in Bangladesh to control cybercrime. Two hundred million people are now virtually held hostage by social media. The BNP government has come to power with massive public support, and ensuring the security of the people is one of the government’s primary responsibilities. The Home Minister has announced strict measures to suppress the underworld, but the government is yet to take any bold steps to curb cybercrime.
In the last session of the National Parliament, cybercrime was discussed, and the Leader of the Opposition called upon the government to take stern action. This signifies a national consensus. Therefore, the government should enact laws to suppress cybercrime immediately. Otherwise, this elected government itself will be the most affected.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
