During the drafting of Bangladesh’s Personal Data Protection Ordinance (PDPO) 2025, Meta repeatedly pressured policymakers to reduce the legal definition of a child’s age from 18 years. The company raised this issue in multiple high-level meetings, including those involving the US Embassy and bilateral discussions. Officials clarified that defining a child’s age falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, not the ICT division. Despite this, Meta did not explain why the change was so critical.

The article notes that Bangladesh has 70–80 million Facebook users, including 6–8 million minors aged 13–17. It argues that stricter child data protection limits Meta’s ability to profile users, monetize content, and train AI systems. The PDPO aligns with GDPR principles, requiring explicit user consent for data use and reuse, including AI training. The law also restricts child profiling and targeted advertising.

The report highlights broader global concerns about social media data use, citing cases in Australia and Europe. It concludes that Bangladesh’s data protection law aims to safeguard children’s digital rights and ensure accountability from global tech platforms operating in the country.