Cyber Security Act Amendment Returns: Govt Proposes 10-Year Jail for Rumours, Disinformation

The government is set to amend the Cyber Protection Act 2026 just three months after it came into force, proposing tougher provisions and stricter penalties to curb the spread of rumours and disinformation, according to official sources.

Officials from the Home Ministry and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division said the proposed amendments introduce four new offences—rumours, disinformation, disparagement and defamation.

The revised draft also authorises the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, alongside law enforcement agencies and institutions such as the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), to enforce the law. The government expects Parliament to pass the amendment during its next session.

A new Section 26A has been added to the draft, making the publication or dissemination of rumours and disinformation in cyberspace a criminal offence. Violators could face up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk40 lakh, or both.

Under the proposed law, a "rumour" is defined as unconfirmed or unverified information, news or claims that create—or are likely to create—confusion, panic, excitement or social instability. "Disinformation" is defined as false, distorted or misleading information intentionally published or circulated to deceive, mislead or harm individuals, the public, institutions or the state.

Policymakers said the tougher penalties are aimed at countering malicious campaigns that exploit artificial intelligence (AI) to produce fake videos, audio recordings and manipulated images.

The amendments also revise Section 25 by adding "defamation" and "disparagement" as punishable offences. Anyone found publishing or disseminating information, audio, video, graphics or AI-generated content intended to defame or disparage another person could face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to Tk20 lakh, or both.

The penalties become more severe if the offence targets a woman or a child under the age of 18, with offenders facing up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to Tk40 lakh, or both.

A senior Home Ministry official said malicious actors frequently use social media to spread rumours and disinformation targeting senior government officials, political leaders and professionals, harming both the government's reputation and the country's image.

However, technology experts and legal analysts have raised concerns that the proposed amendments could revive provisions reminiscent of the widely criticised Digital Security Act introduced during the previous Awami League administration.

Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Digitally Right, warned that the amendments could be widely misused and further undermine Bangladesh's standing in global online freedom rankings.