No jail term in new cyber security act: Anisul

Law, justice and parliamentary affairs minister Anisul Huq has said that the new cyber security act will have no provision for jail terms, and only have provision for fines in defamation cases.

The minister made the remark in regard to the government's decision to replace the Digital Security Act (DSA) with a new cyber security act.

He said, "The DSA is being changed. Many sections of this act will be added to the new cyber security act. Some sections will be amended."

This policy-level decision came at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday morning.

The DSA was enacted on October 8, 2018 to prevent the spread of sectarianism, extremism, terrorist propaganda, and hatred against religious or ethnic minorities through social media, print media or any other electronic media.

However, since its inception, the DSA has been criticised heavily for its misuse.

/KN/