Dhaka, May 22 -- The interim government has repealed the much-criticised Cyber Security Act, widely condemned as a "black law", replacing it with a new Cyber Safety Ordinance.

The new ordinance omits provisions that would criminalise speech that criticises the Liberation War, its spirit, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the national anthem, or the national flag.

Instead, it includes new offences related to artificial intelligence (AI), such as using AI tools or agents to illegally access networks or commit cybercrimes.

However, similar to its predecessor, the ordinance still allows police to arrest individuals without a warrant.

The law ministry gazetted the ordinance on Wednesday, formally repealing the 2023 Cyber Security Act.

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