Staff Reporter :
A recent research paper by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) revealed that since its inception, at least 451 journalists have been sued under the Digital Security Act (DSA), with 255 of them facing legal action for their reporting.
Among the accused, 209 journalists are associated with national-level media outlets, while 197 are from regional media organizations. Shockingly, the research also indicates that at least 97 journalists have been arrested, including 50 local journalists.
The CGS’s research, unveiled on Tuesday, further highlights that between October 2018 and September 2023, a staggering 4,520 individuals have been charged in 1,436 cases under the DSA.
“We have data regarding 1,534 individuals’ professions,” noted Prof. Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor of political science at Illinois State University, while presenting the findings of the paper titled “The Ordeal: Five Years of the Digital Security Act.”
Prof. Riaz emphasised that journalists outside of Dhaka are particularly vulnerable to legal action under the DSA. Additionally, the research reveals that at least 495 politicians have been sued under the same act, and a significant portion of those arrested under the law are politicians.
The researchers concluded that the Digital Security Act has been widely misused as a tool of political repression.
Meanwhile, journalists were accused under the DSA by 202 people. Among the accusers, 124 are “aggrieved parties”, while 61 were individuals who had not been directly impacted by the news or any other actions of these journalists.
Journalists make up a third of those prosecuted, while politicians constitute another third.
At least 495 politicians were sued under the DSA and at least a quarter of those arrested under the law are politicians, according to the research.
DSA was wholly abused as a tool of political repression, found the researchers.
“The share of politicians among the arrestees has increased compared to our previous study period (October 2018 – August 2022), when it was 21.75 percent,” it said, meaning disproportionately more politicians were arrested last year prior to the elections.
At least 28 minors were sued under the DSA and 22 of them were arrested, found CGS.
Out of the total, 2,328 people were sued in 908 cases filed because of Facebook posts made by users, found the research.
“While there are instances of victims of wrongdoing, including sexual harassment, bullying, invasion of privacy, a significant number of complaints have been filed by individuals alleging defamation of other individuals,” stated the study.
“Give bail to all arrested under DSA,” urged Prof Riaz, adding that that since the law itself has been replaced by the Cyber Security Act last year, the “offences” should not logically still be valid.