Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and Article-19 have urged the government to overhaul the Cyber Security Act 2023 before implementing the Cyber Security Rules 2024.

In a joint press conference on Thursday, they emphasized that retaining the human rights and freedom-curbing clauses of the Act will render the Rules ineffective.

They called for meaningful participation of experts and stakeholders in redrafting the Act, addressing concerns and recommendations raised previously.

In a joint statement, TIB and Article-19 have criticized the proposed Cyber Security Rules as being overly limited, with 19 rules directly copied from the Digital Security Rules, 2020.

The rules lack adherence to modern standards, fail to adequately define critical terms, establish a clear organizational structure, or provide transparent procedures.

Additionally, they lack specifications for human resources, international assistance provisions, and global quality standards for the Digital Forensic Lab. Furthermore, certain sections on digital evidence are overlooked and some contradict existing laws, creating legal loopholes.

As a result, TIB and Article-19 assert that the rules would be ineffective in their current form.

TIB Executive Director, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, criticized the Cyber Security Rules for neglecting stakeholders' opinions and merely repackaging the arbitrary Digital Security Act.

He emphasized that the rules are designed to suppress free access to information and speech, further complicating the existing issues in the Cyber Security Act. He called for amending the Act based on expert and stakeholder recommendations, including civil society and journalists.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman also expressed concern over the excessive power granted to the proposed Cyber Security organization, with potential for abuse due to unclear human resource allocation and organizational structure.

He noted the lack of mention of local and international organizations crucial for the law's implementation, raising doubts about achieving its goals and expressing concerns about it being used as a tool to control citizens' rights.

Sheikh Manjur-E-Alam, Regional Director of Article-19, criticized the government's hasty implementation of laws, stating that they often draft new laws without finalizing existing ones.

He pointed out the Cyber Security Act was implemented without addressing criticisms of the Digital Security Act, merely changing terminology and stressed that implementing rules based on a flawed law won't be effective.

Manjur-E-Alam urged the government to clarify their objectives, accusing them of focusing on controlling freedom of expression and accessing data rather than ensuring cyber safety.

He called for a change in approach to prioritize protecting rights instead of suppressing them.