Facebook, YouTube, and Other Awami League Platforms to Be Shut Down!

The government has begun taking steps to shut down all online platforms operated by the Awami League and its affiliated, associate, and like-minded organizations. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has been instructed to block their websites, Facebook pages, YouTube channels, TikTok, Telegram, and X (formerly Twitter) accounts. This directive was sent on Tuesday by the National Cyber Security Agency. The matter was confirmed to the media by Fayez Ahmed Tayyab, Special Assistant on Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology to the Chief Advisor.

Earlier, on Monday, the interim government issued a gazette notification stating that all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations are prohibited until the completion of the trials at the International Crimes Tribunal. The notification, issued by the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, declared a complete ban on all forms of campaigns, publications, processions, gatherings, and events—both offline and online, including on social media platforms. The decision was made under the amended Anti-Terrorism Ordinance.

On the same day, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the Awami League’s registration as a political party, putting its constitutional and legal status in jeopardy.

Sources from the National Cyber Security Agency and BTRC stated that formal letters will soon be sent to international tech companies like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, requesting that these accounts be blocked. The letters will cite the government’s decision and the country’s existing laws to justify the request.

Fayez Ahmed Tayyab clarified that the government does not have full control over shutting down content on global platforms. While it can block websites domestically, removing content or suspending accounts on social media platforms depends on the policies and guidelines of the respective companies. Meta (Facebook’s parent company) and Google often receive such requests from governments around the world, including Bangladesh.

According to Meta’s latest transparency report, from January to June 2024, it restricted access to 2,940 items in Bangladesh based on requests from the BTRC. Google’s latest transparency report states that in 2024, Bangladesh submitted 490 content removal requests involving 5,827 items. In the first half of the year, Google took no action on 68.2% of the requests, while in the latter half, the figure stood at 45.8%.

This move by the government marks a significant turning point in the country’s political landscape. As political engagement and propaganda increasingly depend on digital platforms, the restrictions are expected to have far-reaching impacts. It now remains to be seen how international tech giants respond to the government's request.