Govt Asks Meta to Tackle Violent Election Content

The interim government has formally urged Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to take urgent measures to curb Bangladesh-related online content that incites violence, disrupts the upcoming national election, and encourages attacks on media institutions.

In a letter sent on Friday, December 20, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) requested Meta to enforce stricter moderation of Facebook posts that promote violence, intimidation and electoral sabotage. The agency also called for Bangladesh-related content to be placed under heightened monitoring until the completion of the national election and referendum scheduled for February 12.

The government warned that Facebook has increasingly been used as a platform to spread calls for large-scale violence and to undermine the electoral process at a time when Bangladesh is undergoing a sensitive political transition.

According to the letter, the country remains in a fragile condition following the July 2024 uprising, during which more than 1,400 students were killed and thousands injured. The NCSA noted that during this period, social media—particularly Facebook—played a significant role in amplifying tensions, with online incitement often translating into real-world violence.

The agency also raised serious concerns over posts allegedly encouraging attacks on journalists and media institutions. It referred to instances where individuals associated with the former regime openly endorsed violence online, followed by recent incidents of vandalism and arson targeting media establishments.

“Despite repeated requests from various government and civil sources, Meta did not cooperate in deactivating accounts found to be responsible for inciting and mobilising violence,” the letter stated.

The NCSA warned that the unchecked spread of violence-inciting content poses a direct threat to national stability, public order, media freedom and the safety of minorities. It said a list of Facebook posts explicitly or implicitly calling for mob violence was attached to the letter, many of which had been reported through official channels but were not acted upon in a timely manner.

As Meta does not maintain a local office in Bangladesh, the government said all regulatory communications are routed through the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the NCSA. The letter cited the recently approved Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, which empowers the NCSA to intervene in cases involving digital threats to national security and public safety.

The interim government urged Meta to acknowledge its responsibility in preventing misuse of its platform, strengthen Bengali-language content moderation and contextual review, take immediate action against posts inciting violence, and maintain special monitoring of Bangladesh-related content at least until the election process concludes.

Describing the issue as one of “national importance”, the NCSA noted that Bangladesh has not experienced a genuinely participatory election for more than 17 years. It warned that the credibility of the upcoming polls is closely linked to public safety, democratic rights and long-term political stability.

The letter was addressed to senior Meta officials responsible for public policy and human rights, seeking urgent cooperation to prevent further escalation of violence and to safeguard press freedom during the election period.