Cyber Security in the Global Village and Challenges for Bangladesh: An Overview on Legal Context

Abstract

With the rapid penetration of the Internet and other information and communication technology worldwide, cyber-crime is emerging as a threat to personal data stored in computers and likely to affect the entire data systems. Even the United States, one of the most technologically advanced countries, is also subjected to such crimes. Bangladesh, being a less developed country, is also at the risk of cyber-crimes that might jeopardize the country’s national security. As the incumbent government eyes to ensure internet connectivity at all government institutions by 2021 upholding the motto of ‘Digital Bangladesh’, more and more national and multinational companies are offering online services to their services through the internet following the government’s agenda. From shopping to Banking, all are just a click away with the higher rate of internet penetration. However, criminals are also using the online platform where they are committing various sorts of criminal activities including phishing, hacking, and stealing personal data. Hence, the state-owned, as well as private organizations, might fall prey to cyber-attacks which might affect the lives of the entire population. Moreover, the country’s 90% of software is unlicensed that also intensifies the risk of cybercrimes thanks to their compromised security issue. In addition, the recent tug of wars between Bangladeshi and Indian hackers impacted the diplomatic relations between the two nations. More importantly, there have been scores of media reports saying that terror groups use online platforms for financing and maintaining intra-group communications. In this context, the existing laws and government moves against cyber-crimes are apparently very scanty to combat the burgeoning threat. The study attempts to shed light upon the threat posed by cyber-crimes in the context of the global village with an emphasis on the perspective of Bangladesh.