Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud met the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries Sir John Whittingdale at his office in London on Wednesday.
During the meeting, they discussed on increasing cooperation in media and prevention of rumors and misinformation through social media, said a press release received in Dhaka on Thursday.
Dr Hasan Mahmud is now visiting London to join the Parliamentary Security Intelligence Forum (PSIF), the leading international security forum providing expertise and collaboration among parliamentarians and government officials. In the meeting, Whittingdale highlighted the UK’s approach to combating the rumours and disinformation through social media. He said a law has been passed in May last where it was clear that the service providers of social platforms must be registered.
Dr Hasan Mahmud informed him that the government has urged the social media platforms to register though Bangladesh doesn’t have the law yet. But so far, they have not registered despite repeated calls, that is a major hurdle in countering the spread of fake news and rumors through social media.
Dr Hasan Mahmud held a meeting with Conservative Friends of India’s chief patron Lord Rami Ranger at Carlton Club. The two ministers also discussed increasing mass media and cultural communication between the two countries. Bangladesh High Commissioner to London Syeda Muna Tasnim was present in the meetings.
