Imagine you are being used as a meme! Though you might not care, you may also have laughed at those memes without knowing that they were a form of digital harassment. Do you know what digital harassment is? Digital harassment is the newest form of harassment that takes place via online platforms through the use of someone’s photos as memes, videos, screenshots, unwanted sexual texts, and many more forms. Nowadays, exposing someone online is considered cool, but no, it is not cool. It is harassment; it is digital harassment.
Media and cyber laws in Bangladesh began with the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 (amended in 2013), were strengthened by the Digital Security Act of 2018, and are now being reshaped under the Cyber Security Act, 2026. The ICT Act originally created cyber tribunals and defined computer-related offences; many of its earlier provisions (notably the contentious Section 57 of the 2006 Act) were perceived as overly broad and were later replaced in effect by the DSA.
Victims of digital harassment are not helpless. Under Bangladesh’s Cyber Security Act, posting or sharing content without permission, especially when it harms a person’s dignity, can lead to serious consequences. Section 25(1) of the Cyber Security Act, 2026 states, “The intentional transmission, publication, or threat to publish any content, including videos or images, for purposes such as blackmail, sexual harassment, memes, revenge pornography, or sextortion through digital or electronic platforms constitutes a criminal offence.”
Section 25(2) of the Cyber Security Act, 2026 states that offenders may face up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 10 lakh, or both. If the victim is a woman or a child under the age of 18, the penalty may extend to up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 20 lakh, or both.
Under Section 8, the Director General of the National Cyber Security Agency has the authority to order the removal or blocking of harmful content and may request the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to take immediate action.
Under Sections 499 and 500 of the Penal Code, 1860, reputational and financial harms caused through online platforms are criminalised, with penalties including simple imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both.
Victims of digital harassment are not powerless, and the law provides them with a clear path to justice. The first step is to file a General Diary (GD) or a First Information Report (FIR) at the nearest police station. From there, cases can be reported to the Cyber Crime Unit (CID) in Dhaka or through the Bangladesh Police’s online portal.
Victims also have the option to submit complaints directly to the Cyber Tribunal, which specialises in handling cyber offences. To make the case stronger, evidence such as screenshots, URLs, and witness statements should be collected and presented. Individuals who record and share videos of others without consent under the guise of being content creators or online influencers will face fast-track trials, with investigations to be completed within 90 days under the Cyber Security Act, 2026.
While laws try to protect privacy, the digital economy is booming. Bangladesh now has over 150,000 active influencers across Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Marketing spending has crossed USD 120 million, with more than 45,000 brand collaborations expected in 2026. Engagement rates remain high, averaging 4.8%, above global standards.
The rise of influencers and vlogging culture reflects modernisation and creativity. Yet, it also raises questions about consent, dignity, and privacy. A simple act of recording a stranger without permission can cross the line into harassment.
For lawmakers, the challenge is clear: embrace modernisation, encourage digital creativity, but never at the cost of human dignity. For citizens, awareness of rights and remedies under cyber law is essential. And for influencers, responsibility must go hand in hand with popularity.
The writer is a student, Department of Law, Bangladesh University of Professionals
