‘Digital Security Act’ aims at controlling digital crimes: Jabbar

Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar on Saturday said object of the Digital Security Act (DSA) is not to control the social media rather the main purpose of the act is to control the digital crimes, reports BSS.

“Digital security should be ensured by utilizing the technologies,” he said, addressing the inaugural function of a national debate competition in the city.

Debate for Democracy organized the national debate competition on ‘Legal control to make social media responsible’ under a shadow parliament at FDC here with its Chairman Hassan Ahamed Chowdhury Kiron in the chair, said a press release.

“If the Digital Security Act is passed, the Section 57 of the ICT Act will be abolished. However, the cases filed under the Section will be conducted accordingly,” the minister said, adding that the term ‘spying’ will not remain in Section 32 of the Digital Security Act.

The act will not be a barrier in publishing reports against corruption, the minister said, adding, “But breaching Official Secrecy Act will be considered as a punishable offence”

The DSA is being prepared upholding the citizens’ rights described in the Right to Information Act-2009, Jabbar said, underscoring the necessity of massive public awareness along with the legal framework to control the digital offences.

Students from 16 universities across the country can contest in the competition. In the inaugural competition, Jagannath University team defeated North South University team.

Professor Dr SM Morshed and journalist Mohammad Khan were the judges in the inaugural debate competition.