Bangladesh is drafting its first dedicated social media legislation, titled the Social Media and Digital Intermediary Act, 2026, according to a Netra News report. Led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the proposed law requires digital platforms to remove content deemed unlawful or threatening to state security, public order, and foreign relations within 24 hours of official notification. In cases involving emergency situations such as deepfake pornography or child sexual abuse material, platforms must execute removals within 12 hours.
The draft proposal, which closely mirrors India’s 2021 intermediary guidelines, requires significant platforms with at least one million registered monthly active users in Bangladesh to establish a local office. Such platforms must appoint a chief compliance officer, a nodal contact person, and a resident grievance officer, while complying with a government established Grievance Appellate Committee.
Amnesty International, which reviewed the draft at the request of Netra News, warned that the proposed framework risks encouraging platforms to censor lawful expression. The organization highlighted that making legal safe harbor protections conditional on strict compliance exerts pressure on tech companies to remove content to avoid liability. Amnesty International further noted that vague exemptions for satirical content or constructive political criticism fail to meet international legal standards, while Section 3 permits content removals without prior judicial authorization or independent review.