Transparency Report:Government requested user data from Meta on 3,771 accounts in 2024

Govt Sought Meta Data on 3,771 Accounts in 2024: Transparency Reports

In 2024, the Bangladesh government submitted requests to Meta seeking data on 3,771 user accounts, according to the tech giant’s latest transparency report. These requests dropped notably in the year’s second half following the change in government.

Meta, which owns Facebook, also restricted access to 4,220 pieces of content in Bangladesh last year. Meanwhile, Google reported receiving 5,827 content removal requests from the Bangladesh government during the same period.

Both Meta and Google publish biannual transparency reports. Their 2024 data shows that the volume of requests was higher in the first half of the year under the Awami League government, which was ousted on August 5 after a mass uprising. The interim government assumed office on August 8.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) submits such requests on behalf of the government. A BTRC official noted a decline in requests under the new administration.

Between July and December, Meta received 926 requests concerning 1,486 accounts from Bangladesh—897 under legal process and 29 on urgent grounds—complying with 64% of them. From January to June, 1,501 requests covered 2,285 accounts, with a compliance rate of 68.4%.

Meta also restricted 1,280 pieces of content in the second half of 2024, mostly comments and posts. In the first half, over 2,940 items were blocked, including comments, posts, profiles, and pages. Most takedowns were based on BTRC complaints citing the Cyber Security Act 2023, and involved content linked to controlled substances, religious sensitivities, and incitement to violence.

Google received 153 content removal requests between July and December, targeting 1,357 items. It declined to act in 45.8% of cases, citing lack of information in 37%. Earlier in the year, 337 requests sought the removal of 4,470 items—most involving YouTube content deemed defamatory, harmful, or critical of the government.

The government also made 28 requests to Google for user data on 30 accounts during the first half of the year. Google complied with only 14% of these.

Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Digitally Right, suggested the decline in requests may reflect the waning of politically motivated content control. He called for stronger judicial oversight and full transparency in the enforcement of the Cyber Security Ordinance to safeguard freedom of expression.