Bangladesh court issues rule on Facebook blocking

by Blitz Desk
July 28, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/903/bangladesh-court-issues-rule-on-facebook-blocking

Bangladesh Supreme Court has served a notice on the government asking as to why blocking of Facebook and other social sites as well as blogs and websites by the government would not be declared illegal.

The court comprising judge Mohammed Iman Ali and M. Obaidul Hassan has issued the rule on the government, asking it to reply within four weeks.

The court has asked the government to show cause as to why the Information and Technology related law section 46 and 57, which gives right to the government in blocking websites would not be declared illegal.

Barrister Sara Hossain appeared on behalf of the plaintiffs.

In the section 46 of the Information and Technology related law, it is mentioned that the government can block any website if it contains information which might be considered as threat to national security and sovereignty. In section 57 it is mentioned that the government can block any site if it contains obscene or defamatory articles, pictures or cartoons.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission [BTRC] has the absolute right in blocking any of the websites under the mentioned sections of the law.

It may be mentioned here that, since the present government came in power in 2009 [January], it has blocked YouTube and Facebook for some days. It is also rumoured that the government is considering blocking websites, containing information against Bangladesh, Islam or 'Muslim Ummah'.

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