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The Editors' Council has expressed grave concern over endorsement of the 'Cyber Security Act-2023' in Parliament, despite strong objections to such a law.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, the council observed that the concerns previously raised by media stakeholders, including the Editors' Council, regarding this legislation proved true because of enactment of the law.
The statement signed by Editors' Council President Mahfuz Anam and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud also observed that the new law carried many sections to undermine freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of media.
The Cyber Security Act which repeals the Digital Security Act is nothing but change of shell as it has only lowered some penalties and amended some sections, the statement found.
Pointing out nine sections -- (8, 21, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 43, and 53), the Council called for amendment to the sections as these sections would notably hinder the press freedom and freedom of expression.
They also found that amendment to these sections were done on penalties and bails without clearing the definition of crimes as was in the previous Digital Security Act.
Earlier, the United Nations Human Rights Council/Commission also called for withdrawal of the Sections 21 and 28 of the Digital Security Act finding their adverse impact on freedom of expression, both nationally and internationally and scope of against in political opponents.
But keeping these sections only by reducing the penalities, scope of misuse of the sections would continue, they also apprehended.
The Cyber Security Act, if enacted, would allow law enforcement agency to seize assets, including computer network servers and also allow right to arrest using extensive powers under Section 42.
Four sections of the law are non bailable.
In the statement the Editors' Council, however, acknowledged the necessity of punishment for digital or cyber crimes but argued that as majority sections in the Cyber Security Act are similar to the previous Digital Security Act, scope would be there to use those for repression of journalists and press freedom like before.
'For that reason, the Editors' Council considers the new Cyber Security Act as nothing other than repressive law,' the statement added.