Dhaka, Sep 29 (V7N)- State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Chowdhury has said the government believes in freedom of expression and has no intention of controlling the media.
He said, however, that measures are necessary to prevent the spread of misinformation, disinformation and rumours that could harm the public.
The state minister made the remarks after a meeting with leaders of the Dhaka Reporters Unity at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
Yaser Khan Chowdhury said the government would take action against people who engage in what he described as journalism and misinformation in the name of unregistered online journalism.
He stressed that efforts to address misinformation should not be viewed as an attempt to restrict legitimate journalism or freedom of expression.
The state minister also said a proposal to include provisions in the Cyber Security Act allowing action against journalists would be considered.
He said the government is working to reform and strengthen the cyber-security framework while taking into account the interests and rights of journalists and other stakeholders. Earlier, he said opinions from different stakeholders would be considered in the reform process.
Yaser also emphasized the need for effective measures against fake accounts, misinformation and disinformation on digital platforms. He has previously said ordinary citizens are among those most affected by the spread of false information online.
The government has separately stated that it is committed to maintaining an environment conducive to independent journalism and freedom of expression while taking measures against defamatory content and misinformation.
END/SMA/AJ
