Journalists, musicians and cartoonists amongst 433 people currently detained
Most face allegations of publishing false and offensive information online
Draconian Digital Security Act must be amended, or repealed
Bangladeshi authorities must end the crackdown on right to freedom of expression online and urgently repeal or amend the draconian Digital Security Act (DSA), Amnesty International said in a new briefing released today.
Introduced in October 2018, the DSA - a law that contains overbroad and vague provisions granting authorities extensive powers - is increasingly being used to stifle dissent online, with punishments that can extend to life imprisonment.
The briefing,
No space for dissent: Bangladesh’s Crackdown on Freedom of Expression Online, examines cases under the DSA against 10 people who have been subjected to a wide range of human rights violations simply for criticising powerful people on social media.