Latest news with #CyberSecurityAct
Scroll.in
a day ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Bangladesh's democratic fabric frays further
On May 16, small bands of Awami League supporters took out flash rallies across at least 30 locations in Dhaka and a few other towns of Bangladesh. These demonstrations were largely defiant in nature – to express their resentment against the May 10 'conditional' ban against the party which was ousted from power in August 2024. The Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime's decision to proscribe the Awami League stemmed from demands by a section of students who led the July-August 2024 movement against the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The ban, invoked under Bangladesh's 2009 Anti-Terrorism Act, was imposed nine months after the Yunus government assumed charge on August 8, 2024. It is being seen as a step that adversely impacts Bangladesh's already fragile democratic fabric which has time and again been subjected to assaults largely – and ironically – by political forces, including the now-proscribed party. Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August 2024 was widely expected to usher in a new era of democracy with better governance, fair elections, protection of human rights, and press freedom. That has not happened. Unkept promise The democratic values the interim administration promised to restore now appear compromised under the weight of its own authoritarian impulses. On its part, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which had earlier indicated it was not opposed to the Awami League contesting elections, whenever they are held, did a volte face, supporting the ban. The ban on the Awami League raises serious concerns about unconstitutional practices and democratic backsliding. The proscription, to be in place till Awami League leaders are tried in the International Crimes Tribunal, allows the interim government to outlaw organisations deemed threats to national security. While the democratic space has severely shrunk in Bangladesh – there is no clarity on when elections will be held there – the media has not been immune to violent attacks and targeted vilification. Laws such as the 2023 Cyber Security Act (formerly Digital Security Act 2018) continue to be used to suppress dissent, curtail free speech, harass journalists, activists and political opponents. Media offices have been raided by law enforcement agencies, voices of independent bloggers, social media influencers and pro-democracy activists have been muzzled for criticising the interim regime's alliance with Islamist groups. Another alarming aspect of the current regime's conduct is the pattern of deaths in custody and allegations of torture. In its most recent report, Human Rights Watch expressed concern on the imposition of a ban, describing it as an 'excessive restriction on fundamental freedoms'. Political opposition Bangladeshi political parties such as the BNP and the Jamaat questioned the interim government's position as the rightful authority to implement the corridor, with geopolitical implications, without taking prior consent of the people or consulting the Myanmar government. Even Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman stood firmly against the proposed 'humanitarian corridor', Amid a general sense of disenchantment with the Yunus government, the Awami League's marginalisation is reflected in the inability of its leaders and supporters, who fled Bangladesh in the wake of last year's violence to India, to regroup. Hasina has been using social media to interact regularly with party supporters at home, but there has been no visible attempt at recalibrating the party or even shaking up the organisational structure with a view to reform. Some commentators claim that the Awami League's inability to get a grip on itself and chart a fresh direction is an outcome of the Yunus regime's ' authoritarian excesses '. The ban on the Awami League has been compounded by an Election Commission decision to suspend the party's registration, which effectively prevents it from contesting elections, whenever they are held. The domestic political situation is ' fraught ', and almost explosive. Any delay in holding polls will unleash political forces – such as the Islamist outfits – in a country that has not witnessed a truly free and fair elections for nearly two decades. The Army, considered a powerful stakeholder in Bangladesh's politics, is in no mood to see a prolonged period of uncertainty. In September last year, Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman had proposed an 18-month timeline for holding elections, but the Yunus-led interim regime has hemmed and hawed. Some government functionaries have advocated holding institutional reforms before holding elections. But now the 'humanitarian corridor' controversy has given the Army a strong reason to not only ensure Bangladesh's sovereignty does not get eroded but also hasten the process to hold early elections so it can ' return to the barracks '. Bangladesh's political firmament reflects a grim paradox – the students' community unseated Sheikh Hasina for being an authoritarian ruler; by the same token, Yunus' interim regime is being seen as increasingly dictatorial even as it continues to be supported by the students. There are allegations that the Yunus-led government is intolerant of dissent and is prepared to use disproportionately strong measures. Far from a transitional administration that was expected to guide the country toward free and fair elections, the interim authority appears to be centralising power. Unless this trend is checked, Bangladesh risks sinking deeper into autocracy.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Gobind: Malaysia must think global on digital security
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is accelerating efforts to build a robust digital security ecosystem, with a dual focus on grooming homegrown cybersecurity talent and crafting regulatory guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI). Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said Malaysia must think beyond its borders when it comes to digital security, as cybersecurity challenges and solutions are increasingly global in nature. "We want our talent to be recognised internationally and equipped to meet global standards," he said at the launch of the Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO) programme on Tuesday. He said bolstering the local talent pool will be critical as Malaysia prepares to implement the long-awaited Cyber Security Act and the amended Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
Techday NZ
21-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
ANZ organisations focus on IP & data as cyber threats surge
Arctic Wolf has released its 2025 Trends Report showing that IP, data, and privacy protection have become the top cybersecurity priorities for organisations in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) amid tightening regulations and an uptick in ransomware attacks. According to the report, which is based on a survey of over 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries, security leaders and decision-makers in ANZ are responding to a shifting risk environment by prioritising the protection of intellectual property, as well as privacy and data. The survey found that 45% of respondents in ANZ identified intellectual property, data, and privacy protection as the primary drivers shaping their security strategy over the next year. This contrasts with global findings, where the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) was the top driver for security leaders, including in North America (48%) and Europe (43%). The report highlights that 85% of ANZ respondents experienced a cyberattack in the last 12 months, which is higher than the global average of 76%. ANZ organisations are also 9% more likely than the global average to experience a significant cyberattack. Victim organisations in ANZ demonstrate a higher likelihood to pay ransom demands compared to the global average. The findings indicate that 74% of ANZ respondents paid ransoms to prevent the release of stolen data, compared to 50% globally. Among all respondents hit by ransomware demands, 83% of those in ANZ paid, similar to the global average (76%). Of those local respondents, 91% engaged professional ransomware negotiators, resulting in reduced payment sums in 44% of cases. Mark Thomas, Director of Security Services, ANZ at Arctic Wolf, commented on these trends, saying, "The 2025 Trends Report shows that security leaders in Australia and New Zealand are facing a different bottom line. Here, organisations are grappling with a unique set of challenges spurred on by stringent regulatory and compliance frameworks and an uptick of ransomware attacks. It's no surprise that the key drivers for security strategies reflect the broader business trends we're seeing in region." He added, "With Australia tightening its mandatory ransomware reporting payment requirements and sanctions introduced under the Cyber Security Act, we may see the 83% of organisations willing to pay ransoms reassess their approach to dealing with demands, even with the help of a negotiator." The regulatory landscape in Australia is set to change further with new ransomware reporting requirements and privacy laws, bringing increased compliance scrutiny to local businesses. This evolving environment demands that executives and IT decision-makers carefully consider business-critical priorities while adapting to emerging risks and regulatory obligations. Dan Schiappa, President, Technology and Services at Arctic Wolf, shared his perspective, stating, "Arctic Wolf's 2025 Trends Report offers a telling snapshot of how security leaders are thinking. AI's rapid emergence is creating new uncertainty, not only in how attackers operate but also in how defenders must respond. At the same time, ransomware remains a persistent and costly threat. As organisations race to implement AI-powered tools, it is critical they also do not lose sight of core security fundamentals like patching vulnerabilities, implementing detection and response, and maintaining a current incident response plan." The report also notes that, in addition to compliance pressures, challenges for ANZ organisations include limited visibility into cyber risks, outdated incident response plans, and ongoing budget constraints. As small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with a turnover of under AUD $3 million consider how new reporting obligations might affect them, industry participants are debating whether such requirements will act as a deterrent for attackers or could inadvertently increase risk by making SMBs more attractive targets. With these findings, the Arctic Wolf 2025 Trends Report provides insight into the factors shaping cybersecurity investment and strategy decisions among organisations in ANZ in the context of a fast-changing threat and regulatory environment.
Malaysiakini
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Council of Europe official lauds M'sian cybersecurity reform
Malaysia's commitment and transparency in tackling cybercrime have drawn praise from the head of the Cybercrime Division of the Council of Europe, Alexander Seger, who believes the country is more prepared than it gives itself credit for. Speaking to Bernama at the Cyber Games 2025 hosted in Kuala Lumpur, he commended Malaysia's proactive stance in strengthening its cybersecurity framework through legal reforms, including the adoption of the Cyber Security Act and ongoing public consultations on the Cybercrime Bill. 'What I have seen in recent years is...
Barnama
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Council Of Europe Official Applauds Malaysia's Cybersecurity Reforms
By Syed Iylia Hariz Al-Qadri Syed Izman KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's commitment and transparency in tackling cybercrime have drawn praise from the Head of the Cybercrime Division of the Council of Europe, Alexander Seger, who believes that the country is more prepared than it gives itself credit for. Speaking to Bernama at the Cyber Games 2025 hosted here, Seger commended Malaysia's proactive stance in strengthening its cybersecurity framework through legal reforms, including the adoption of the Cyber Security Act and ongoing public consultations on the Cybercrime Bill. 'What I have seen in recent years is a tremendous determination by the Malaysian authorities to get their act together. 'I appreciate the openness of the authorities here. Not every government is willing to discuss draft legislation in such detail. That transparency is commendable,' he said. Seger, who has worked in cybercrime policy for over two decades, said Malaysia has both the technical expertise and institutional capacity to engage more actively on the international stage, particularly in multilateral treaties such as the Budapest Convention. 'For years, Malaysian authorities said they were unsure if they could join the Budapest Convention because they lacked the capabilities, but I think Malaysia is in quite a good situation compared to many other countries. They have better skills and more specialised institutions than they acknowledge,' he said. The Budapest Convention, also known as the Convention on Cybercrime, was opened for signature in 2001 and remains the only binding international treaty dedicated to addressing cybercrime. While acknowledging the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats, Seger noted that global cooperation, legal reforms and increasing public awareness have contributed significantly to reducing their impact.
