BTRC to monitor social media for 24 hours

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has taken an initiative to conduct a non-stop monitoring on social media including Youtube and Facebook from now on. The organization says, through this, anytime any offensive content on personal, social, religious or anti-state issues can be quickly identified and removed.

Recently, a video footage of film actress Pori Moni and police officer Golam Saqlain Shithil went viral on Facebook, sparking discussion across the country including the police department. In addition, personal photos and videos of college student Munia and JKG Healthcare’s Dr Sabrina were leaked through social media.

The High Court (HC) has strongly criticized the role of BTRC over spreading personal photos and videos of the people through social media. In the face of various criticisms, BTRC has taken initiative to bring all internet-based websites including social media under 24-hour surveillance.

BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder said, “We have already formed a special cell named ‘the Cyber Security Cell’. Now we are setting up the necessary equipment for surveillance.”

Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Afzal Hossain said, “Measures can be taken to quickly removed those are abusing social media or the contents and videos which are harmful to children.”

In the last one year, BTRC removed about 5,000 objectionable content by contacting the Facebook authorities. Youtube blocked 62 links in response to BTRC’s 431 requests. In addition, 1,060 websites and links were blocked through CTDR.