AS BANGLADESH moves towards a digitally advanced society, it must prepare to face the growing threat of artificial intelligence-driven crimes. Artificial intelligence can help crime in various ways such as generating deepfake videos, fake audio clips and doctored screenshots, creating convincing phishing messages, automating online scams, hacking into secure systems using advanced algorithms and even controlling bots to carry out large-scale cyber attacks without human involvement.
Countries like the United States and the United Kingdom offer useful models for how to handle this challenge. In the United States, proactive steps have already been taken. Federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Infrastructure Protection Centre use advanced digital tools to investigate AI-related cyberattacks. Public-private partnerships also help to develop technologies that detect threats such as deepfakes and awareness campaigns to educate citizens.
The United Kingdom takes a similar approach. Laws like the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and the Online Safety Act 2023 target hacking and harmful AI-generated content online. The National Cyber Security Centre uses advanced technology and digital forensics labs to fight AI threats. Training ensures that law enforcement stays ahead and international partnerships strengthen cross-border efforts. The strategies, clear laws, strong enforcement, public involvement and global cooperation, have helped to reduce AI-related crimes in both the countries.
Bangladesh鈥檚 legal and enforcement systems for cyberspace are still developing. While the United States and the United Kingdom have specific laws targeting deepfakes, online fraud and misinformation, Bangladesh still depends on older laws such as the ICT Act 2006. The Digital Security Act 2018 (now repealed) and the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 cover basic cybercrimes but do not address newer threats like deepfakes. A draft personal data protection act exists, but it has not been enacted. Bangladesh also struggles with limited resources. There are few cyber tribunals, forensic experts are scarce and punishment is applied inconsistently, especially in defamation and misinformation cases. This legal and enforcement gap highlights the urgent need for Bangladesh to modernise its approach.
Bangladesh can learn from the experiences of the the United States and the United Kingdom. It should introduce AI-specific laws. The draft of national AI policy 2024 must include strong rules about transparency and ethics in AI systems. Strengthening law enforcement is also critical. Bangladesh has long needed digital forensics laboratories, first proposed in 2013, and should now prioritise building them. The police should be trained. The laboratories would make it easier to investigate AI-based crimes and analyse suspicious content.
Public awareness campaigns are another important part of the solution. Bangladesh can use television, social media and community events to inform citizens olf AI-related risks. Rural areas, where digital literacy is low, should receive a special focus. Engaging young people as digital ambassadors could help spread awareness and build a tech-savvy population. Partnerships with local and international tech companies can lead to the development of AI detection tools. Blockchain technology may also help to trace illegal financial transactions. On a global level, Bangladesh should work with the United Nations, Interpol and others to stay aligned with international standards and share data about cross-border AI crimes. Ethical AI use, as promoted in Bangladesh鈥檚 2020 AI Strategy, should remain a top priority to ensure fairness and prevent discrimination.
Despite such promising ideas, several challenges remain. Bangladesh faces financial and technical limitations and it will need international help or private investment to build capacity and train its work force. Any new laws must strike a balance 鈥� protecting national security without limiting the freedom of expression, a problem seen in the now-repealed Digital Security Act. Cultural and regional differences also mean that education and awareness programmes must be adapted to local needs.
Bangladesh鈥檚 push for digital transformation still presents a powerful opportunity. By learning from global leaders, Bangladesh can develop a strong legal, enforcement and educational framework to manage the risks of AI-driven crime. A forward-looking strategy that combines smart laws, skilled enforcement, citizen engagement and global cooperation will help ensure that AI becomes a force for good, not a tool for harm.
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Md Galib Mia and Sonali Rajbongshi are students of law and justice in the Presidency University.
