Freedom ends when someone spreads lies that hurts others: Joy

Prime Minister's ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy yesterday said everyone has the right to freedom of speech, but that freedom ends when someone spreads falsehoods that end up hurting others.

"No one has the right to hurt others," he said, noting that Twitter and other social media in the US have banned US President Donald Trump along with several other people and organisations that spread falsehoods that led to violence.

Joy said this is the limit of freedom of speech in the United States.

He also said he wants the US Embassy in Dhaka, as well as other western embassies to take note of this.

"We do not want to see hypocritical statements from you in the future regarding freedom of speech in Bangladesh anymore," read a post he shared on his verified Facebook page.

For all of those who complain about Bangladesh Digital Security Act, in the US, the government lets private companies dictate, he said.

"In Bangladesh we believe that it should not be up to private companies, but up to the courts to decide," Joy mentioned.