“Digital Security Act, 2018 of Bangladesh: A Study on the Situation of Press Freedom and Journalistic Investigation”

Abstract

The Digital Security Act 2018 has created some barriers for citizens' accessing information and freedom of expression, particularly for the media professionals including journalists in Bangladesh. Thus, investigative journalism is now in a state of fear for distinction. In this context, the purpose of the study is to explore various effects of this Act, as well as to focus on different directions of protection while facing fears associated with the law. Digital tools became blessing for both general mass and the journalists in Bangladesh but it also came up with different scopes of misapplication. To minimize the offences, the government approved digital security Act (DSA) 2018. However, the journalist, right workers and activities becomes vocal against some sections of the law claiming those would hinder press freedom and freedom of journalist investigation. The collected data evaluated through the theoretical framework of Freedom of Expression concept. The findings revealed: investigative journalists and other media professionals were suffering from a sense of fear; eventually they were censoring their contents which actually went against the standard of freedom of expression.