The government is considering a range of measures to control the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI). Public concern is growing over deepfakes created using AI to harass people and carry out various forms of abuse, including malicious activity targeting children, and experts have voiced similar concerns. Law-enforcement officials say AI is also being used for dishonest political ends, with vested-interest groups at home and abroad spreading false and fabricated news, opinions and images to build public support for the banned Awami League.
A security official responsible for monitoring AI misuse said: “We fear such activities could affect the country’s political stability and sovereign security.” Intelligence officials said they have identified several groups known as “cyber squads,” referred to by critics as “bot armies.” Taking positions in favour of the banned political party, these groups continue to spread various kinds of misleading propaganda aimed at creating instability in the country. An intelligence official at a security agency said: “They are engaged in the vile activity of character assassination and reputation damage against notable figures such as politicians, academics, professionals and artists, using AI-generated rumours and disinformation spread on social media.”
AI is a category of software application capable of automatically carrying out various tasks, including generating text, creating images and videos, and analysing data. It is used across many sectors worldwide to boost daily productivity and speed up work. However, because of its potential for misuse, organisations such as Anthropic have taken up the task of building reliable, understandable and controllable AI systems. In a recently published report, the company warned that rapidly advancing artificial intelligence could become a threat to humanity’s existence, and said AI could even be used in an attempt to wipe out humanity altogether. Google DeepMind has voiced similar concerns, and the BBC has also covered the issue in a report. Earlier this month, OpenAI’s chief scientist, Jakub Pachocki, called for extreme caution over AI’s rapid progress and expansion, warning that further intervention may be needed to ensure AI’s future remains under human control. In a recent open letter, at least 1,300 senior employees at AI-related organisations urged the US government to support international efforts to introduce technical and administrative measures reining in the unchecked development of artificial intelligence.
At a recent event, government policymakers and experts said fake, fabricated and politically motivated content created with AI is damaging the country’s social harmony, warning that this poses a threat to political stability and stressing the need to guard against it. Acknowledging the risks AI creates, they highlighted the urgent need for strict enforcement of the proposed Cyber Security (Amendment) Act, 2026.
Speaking at an event in Dhaka on Wednesday, home minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the country is currently witnessing a “rapid evolution of crime” in the digital and cyber space. He said this had prompted the government to plan modern cyber security units and laboratories at police headquarters, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and police range headquarters. Earlier, speaking at an event titled the “Global Fraud Summit” in Vienna on March 17, he said a cyber security law is needed to maintain social balance by controlling the widespread proliferation of AI-generated fake content. He said Bangladesh is strengthening its AI-based crime-detection and law-enforcement capacity as the government pursues a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, drugs, human trafficking, corruption and financial fraud.
Meeting recently with US ambassador to Dhaka Brent T. Christensen, information and broadcasting minister Andaleeve Rahman Partho said the government remains committed to maintaining an environment conducive to freedom of expression and a free press. He said necessary steps would be taken to prevent the spread of defamatory statements, misinformation and disinformation on social media and other platforms.
Home minister Salahuddin Ahmed also said that in many countries, as much as 44 percent of crime now occurs in cyberspace, and that Bangladesh is not safe from this danger either. He said there is no substitute for a timely law to prevent online fraud, blackmail tied to sexual harassment, extortion of women through intimidation, and disruption of social and religious order.
Muhammad Quader Gani Chowdhury, managing director and editor-in-chief of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), said in a recent open discussion that spreading obscenity on social media through fake accounts, and the online harassment of women, children and prominent community figures, can never be considered freedom of expression. “If such conduct is encouraged, social obscenity will increase and civilisation itself will be tarnished and corrupted,” he said. Chowdhury also stressed careful enforcement of the proposed cyber security law, saying it must clearly spell out accountability whenever a government agency violates citizens’ cyber rights.