Growing social awareness on internet threats is crucial to enjoy internet freedom, according to experts.
They said there is a lack of awareness among Bangladeshi users about internet freedom and digital rights. Users need to be aware of both individual and collective threats for better online experience.
The observations came at a workshop on “Identifying Major Threats of Internet Freedom in Bangladesh” organized with the support of International human right organization ARTICLE 19, South Asia at a hotel in Dhaka on Thursday.
Bangladesh Internet Freedom Initiative Working Group (BIFIWG) organized the event with relevant stakeholders to identify the major threats to internet freedom in the country and identified what needs to be done to address them.
Faruq Faisel, regional director of ARTICLE 19, South Asia, Md Saimum Reza Talukder, member of BIFIWG and Senior Lecturer, School of Law, BRAC University, Rashed Mehedi, president of Bangladesh Telecom Reporters Network, and Rumky Farhana, program officer of ARTICLE 19, spoke on the occasion.
Md Saimum Reza Talukder presented a paper on “Internet Freedom: Bangladesh Context” and also emphasized that internet freedom based on rights, openness, accessibility, and multi-stakeholder participation are important to ensure an open, transparent and inclusive internet environment.
Faruq Faisel said, “In today’s Bangladesh digital security and digital freedom are equally important.
“In order to promote internet freedom and digital rights, concerted initiatives are needed with the participation of all concerned government and non-government stakeholders.”
Rashed Mehdi said, “To ensure internet freedom and digital rights, access to the internet and adhering civil rights must be ensured. Alongside, users roaming in the digital space should behave responsibly.”
The workshop was attended by 35 people including government officials, representatives of national and international development organizations, diplomats, and UN representatives, representatives of civil society organizations, teachers-students, and human rights activists.
