THE government initiative to block pornography websites has proved a futile exercise due to lack of technological know-how and concerted efforts from the state agencies. Since 2017, the government has blocked 22,000 porn sites to create a safe and secure internet space for all. But statistics show only blocking websites has had little effect on Bangladeshi internet users as they are increasingly visiting pornographic websites. There is no social engineering and psychosocial counselling involving social and religious leaders to instill social and religious values that effectively restrain youth to indulge in porn.
The country has a very rigid “Pornography Control Act-2012” that says preservation, distribution, selling, displaying, advertising of pornographic contents is a punishable offence. The offender can be sanctioned with two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk 100,000. Production of pornography, forcing people to act in pornography, sexual harassment through pornography, displaying and distributing pornography through the internet and electronic devices come with more severe punishments. However, the government agencies are at a loss how to enforce the law. Ministry of Post, telecommunication and ICT declared war against pornography soon in January 2018. The government blocked many pornography sites, but new sites are being launched every day. Pornographic and semi-pornographic contents are being spread also on social media. Again, people are accessing the blocked sites using VPN.
Google Trends analyses show a growing number of Bangladeshis search pornography content web sites. A police division is tasked with patrolling, preventing, detecting and investigating cybercrime in Dhaka city. However, blocking websites to stop porn menace is the only actable means here. BTRC discussed with global tech giants several times to block adult contents, but the definition of adult or obscene content is different from culture to culture.
Experts said data on the pattern of porn consumption can be analysed using artificial intelligence can detect which networks are being mostly used for consuming video content at a particular time. In this way, the agencies will get some useful information which may pave the way for effective measures to stop pornography. We think beside technology, the government should involve religious leaders to instill values among the people, thus they sensor pornography.
The country has a very rigid “Pornography Control Act-2012” that says preservation, distribution, selling, displaying, advertising of pornographic contents is a punishable offence. The offender can be sanctioned with two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk 100,000. Production of pornography, forcing people to act in pornography, sexual harassment through pornography, displaying and distributing pornography through the internet and electronic devices come with more severe punishments. However, the government agencies are at a loss how to enforce the law. Ministry of Post, telecommunication and ICT declared war against pornography soon in January 2018. The government blocked many pornography sites, but new sites are being launched every day. Pornographic and semi-pornographic contents are being spread also on social media. Again, people are accessing the blocked sites using VPN.
Google Trends analyses show a growing number of Bangladeshis search pornography content web sites. A police division is tasked with patrolling, preventing, detecting and investigating cybercrime in Dhaka city. However, blocking websites to stop porn menace is the only actable means here. BTRC discussed with global tech giants several times to block adult contents, but the definition of adult or obscene content is different from culture to culture.
Experts said data on the pattern of porn consumption can be analysed using artificial intelligence can detect which networks are being mostly used for consuming video content at a particular time. In this way, the agencies will get some useful information which may pave the way for effective measures to stop pornography. We think beside technology, the government should involve religious leaders to instill values among the people, thus they sensor pornography.
