Government to meet Meta and Google to address misinformation about it: ICT Minister

The Bangladesh government will soon hold meetings with representatives of Meta, Google, and other social media platforms to discuss measures aimed at curbing the spread of false and misleading content about the government, according to Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam.

The minister made the announcement on Tuesday (August 4) while speaking at an event organized by the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

He said that the government intends to take a firm stance against bullying, misinformation, and harassing content circulated on social media under the guise of freedom of expression.

"The spread of bullying, false information, and abusive content on social media in the name of freedom of speech will be strictly regulated. Such activities will not be tolerated," the minister said.

He added that the government would soon meet with representatives from Meta, Google, and other social media companies to discuss ways to prevent the dissemination of misinformation and misleading content concerning the government.

At the same event, Prime Minister's Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Rehan Asif Asad warned that the risk of cyberattacks is expected to increase in the future.

He said the data security systems of many government institutions remain at an early stage of development and emphasized the need for closer cooperation between the public and private sectors to strengthen the country's cybersecurity.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank Governor Md. Mostakur Rahman said that the cybersecurity systems of the country's commercial banks have yet to reach the desired standard. He described the sector's cyber vulnerabilities as a matter of concern for the central bank.