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The government is taking utmost care to ensure that the proposed Cyber Security (Amendment) Act does not become an oppressive law or lead to the victimisation of journalists and media outlets, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Monday.
“The government’s primary objective is to ensure that no journalist falls victim to misuse of the law,” he said at a press briefing at the Secretariat following a consultation meeting with representatives of print and electronic media at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The stakeholders have been asked to submit formal recommendations, which will be considered for possible inclusion in the draft, he said.
A provision setting a specific timeframe for the disposal of cases and appeals will also be considered to prevent people from remaining in prolonged legal uncertainty, Minister Salahuddin added.
He said a special coordination mechanism would be formed to facilitate finalisation of the draft. The Principal Information Officer will serve as the focal point, while the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will jointly coordinate the process.
Representatives of the Editors’ Council, Electronic Media Association and a panel of cyber experts formed by the IT ministry will participate in the process. They are expected to submit their recommendations within seven to 15 days, the minister said.
The revised draft will then be published again on the government website to seek further public feedback before being placed before the Cabinet.
If accepted, the recommendations will be incorporated into the draft, which will subsequently undergo inter-ministerial review before being submitted to the Cabinet.
Following Cabinet approval, the bill will be placed before Parliament for further deliberation. Members of both the ruling and opposition parties will participate in the parliamentary process, alongside views emerging from seminars and symposiums held outside Parliament.
Salahuddin said the proposed law aims to establish a balanced legal framework to protect the country, society and young people from cybercrime and other criminal activities.
The proposed legislation is also intended to align with international standards while safeguarding social and religious harmony, family values and indigenous culture, he added.
