An article published on February 23, 2026, by Arif Bin Nazrul in Amader Desh explains how every online activity leaves behind a digital footprint. These traces, whether from social media posts, online shopping, or simple searches, remain stored across the internet. The report distinguishes between active footprints, created by deliberate sharing, and passive ones, formed unknowingly through cookies, IP addresses, and browsing data. It emphasizes that the internet rarely forgets, even when users delete content.

The piece highlights that in today’s digital economy, data is power. Large technology companies analyze user behavior to tailor advertisements and content, turning personal information into a valuable commodity. However, when such data falls into the wrong hands through breaches or hacking, it can lead to identity theft, fraud, or financial harm. Algorithms also build behavioral profiles that influence what information users see, potentially narrowing their online experiences.

The article concludes that while erasing digital footprints is nearly impossible, users can control them through awareness, privacy settings, strong passwords, and cautious sharing. Personal responsibility remains key in managing one’s digital presence.

Meta has announced that the standalone Messenger.com website will stop operating from April 6, 2026. After that date, users attempting to access Messenger.com will be automatically redirected to facebook.com/messages. This means that web-based messaging will only be available through Facebook’s main site. The Android and iOS mobile Messenger apps will continue to function as usual without any changes.

The company had previously discontinued the Messenger desktop applications for Windows and Mac, and this latest move extends that consolidation to the web version. Users who relied on Messenger.com without a Facebook account will now need to log in to Facebook to view or send messages. Small businesses, community groups, and individuals who preferred using the browser-based Messenger will have to switch to Facebook’s main desktop interface for chatting.

Meta’s decision marks another step in its broader integration strategy, bringing Messenger more tightly under the Facebook platform. Desktop users are advised to have their Facebook login credentials ready, as logging in will become mandatory for web-based messaging once the change takes effect.

Bangladesh’s Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology, Fakir Mahbub Anam, has declared transparency and accountability as the guiding principles for the country’s ICT sector. Speaking on 15 February at the ICT Division’s conference room in Agargaon, Dhaka, during a reception organized by the division, he emphasized that professionalism and sincerity of officials are essential for implementing government policies effectively.

Anam described ICT as a vital and promising sector, highlighting the government’s priority to expand ICT services to every upazila and make technology accessible to all citizens. He urged officials to work responsibly and collaboratively, noting that the new government seeks to earn public trust through visible progress and effective initiatives. He added that his main goal is to advance the ICT sector under a new vision and policy framework in a transparent and dynamic environment.

ICT Division Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury welcomed the new minister, affirming that the division serves as the hub of the country’s digital transformation and is implementing projects on ICT laws, data centers, hi-tech parks, digital services, startups, cybersecurity, and skilled workforce development.

YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing platform, experienced a major technical disruption late Tuesday night, affecting millions of users worldwide. According to AFP, users across multiple regions reported being unable to access services. YouTube confirmed on social media platform X that it was aware of the issue and that its technical team was working to resolve it.

The outage caused videos to stop displaying across several YouTube services, including the homepage, YouTube app, YouTube Music, and YouTube Kids, which were temporarily nonfunctional. The company later stated that the homepage had been restored, though full service recovery was still in progress. Monitoring site Downdetector reported receiving more than 300,000 user complaints, and improvements began around 1 a.m. GMT.

Owned by Google, YouTube serves over 2.5 billion active users each month, making the disruption one of the most significant recent service interruptions for the platform.

The Government of Bangladesh has introduced a free Freelancer ID Card to officially recognize the country’s freelance professionals. Applications are being processed through the official website freelancers.gov.bd under the Information and Communication Technology sector. The initiative aims to create a national database of genuine freelancers and bring their profession under formal state recognition.

Previously, freelancers faced difficulties proving their professional identity for banking, taxation, and institutional purposes. The new government-issued ID card is expected to serve as a credible identity document, potentially easing access to financial and government services. Applicants must be Bangladeshi citizens with a national ID, verifiable freelance income from international clients, and proof of completed work.

Authorities have warned applicants not to provide false information, as fraudulent submissions could lead to legal complications. The government expects that the collected data will help design future training, incentives, and financial support programs, marking a significant step toward institutionalizing Bangladesh’s growing freelancing sector.

The U.S.-based social media platform X has removed blue verification badges from several senior Iranian officials’ accounts following allegations that it provided paid services to individuals under U.S. sanctions. The action came after a report by the Tech Transparency Project claimed that X’s paid subscription service, X Premium, was available to sanctioned Iranian figures.

Among those whose verification was revoked are Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani. Under U.S. sanctions law, American companies are prohibited from conducting business with certain individuals and entities. X has not issued any official comment on the matter.

The platform, owned by Elon Musk, had previously faced criticism for altering the design of the Iranian flag emoji on its web platform during protests in Iran, replacing the Islamic Republic emblem with the older “lion and sun” symbol associated with monarchist groups.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has postponed the launch of the country’s first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) SIM and its integrated triple-play package combining voice, data, and content services. The launch, initially scheduled for February 15, 2026, will now take place on March 1, 2026, according to an official announcement citing unavoidable reasons for the delay.

A press release stated that BTCL successfully completed call tests for key MVNO services on February 8, 2026. These included voice and data calls, Alap-to-Mobile, Alap-to-Alap, and GPON integration. Despite earlier media reports suggesting a February 15 rollout, BTCL confirmed that the new date has been finalized for pilot marketing of the MVNO service.

Previously, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology had announced that the MVNO SIM and triple-play package would be available at BTCL’s sales centers in Ramna, Gulistan, and Gulshan from February 15. The revised schedule now sets March 1 as the official market introduction date.

Kagojbari has signed a memorandum of understanding with Medico Bio in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi to provide laptops to 21 rural and underprivileged schools across Bangladesh. The initiative, announced in connection with International Mother Language Day, aims to ensure that no student is deprived of healthcare due to technological limitations. Through these laptops, over two thousand students will receive free consultations from Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council–registered and government-approved specialist doctors throughout the year.

Organizers stated that the project seeks to bring quality healthcare to grassroots students while strengthening digital infrastructure in rural education. Each school will have a teacher representative to coordinate digital appointments and consultations. The laptops are expected to support both telemedicine and digital learning, fostering long-term technological engagement among students.

Kagojbari has also announced a Guinness World Record education material donation campaign, aiming to distribute free learning supplies to about 450,000 students in 1,500 schools within 12 hours, setting a new global record for Bangladesh.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has launched a new mobile application named Smart Election Management BD to deliver election results quickly and accurately to the public. The app allows voters to view real-time results and access election-related information directly from their phones during national or local elections. It is available for both Android and iOS platforms and can be downloaded from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Users can view results without logging in, but logging in with a voter ID or national identity number provides access to personal voter details, voter status, and polling center information. The app’s interface includes options to select election type and location, enabling users to see live updates from specific polling centers. Results are uploaded directly after vote counting, showing vote numbers, candidate or party shares, and percentages.

Smart Election Management BD also presents results through graphs and charts, helping users easily understand candidate standings and track progress as counting continues.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being deployed by the Bangladesh Air Force to provide continuous aerial monitoring during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. Officials from the central monitoring cell at the Election Building confirmed the deployment on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The UAVs will operate within the country’s airspace to closely observe conditions on the ground and support law enforcement with real-time guidance.

According to the officials, a total of 3,730 Air Force personnel have been assigned to ensure the election proceeds smoothly and successfully. Under the direct supervision of the Air Force Chief, helicopters, transport aircraft, and multiple UAVs are operating in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles across the country. The UAVs are described as strategic assets that contribute both to election monitoring and national airspace security.

The Election Commission has instructed the Air Force to provide live aerial video feeds from polling centers to the central monitoring cell and the Chief Adviser’s Office for real-time oversight.

The interim government of Bangladesh has launched two new digital platforms, the 'Shubhechha' mobile app and the 'Druto Ticket' online ticketing system, to enhance citizen services and improve travel management. The launch took place on Tuesday, with senior officials including Special Assistant for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Fayez Ahmed Taiyeb and ICT Division Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury presenting the details to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna.

The 'Shubhechha' app aims to strengthen engagement among expatriate Bangladeshis by providing access to over one hundred public services, while the 'Druto Ticket' platform is designed to ensure transparency and prevent irregularities in bus, rail, and air travel, especially during festivals. Chief Adviser Yunus expressed appreciation for the successful launch, emphasizing that the government’s goal is to deliver all services efficiently and without inconvenience to citizens.

He noted that the two platforms mark only the beginning of a broader digital initiative and expressed hope that the next elected government will expand these efforts to reach more people across the country.

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has launched a mobile application named ‘Smart Election Management BD’ ahead of the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, 2026. The app, available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store, allows voters to access detailed information about their polling centers by entering their national ID number and date of birth. Users can view the name, number, and location of their designated polling centers, along with geo-location, building photos, distance, and maps.

According to the EC, the initiative aims to reduce voter harassment and make election-related information more accessible. The app also provides data on registered political parties, candidate affidavits, election guidelines, and results. It is expected to particularly assist urban voters and new voters who often face confusion about their polling centers due to frequent changes between local and national elections.

The 13th parliamentary election will be held on February 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the new app is intended to ensure smoother voter participation on election day.

A recent survey in Poland found that most respondents favor banning social media use for children under 16. Conducted by SW Research for the newspaper Rzeczpospolita and reported by TVP World on February 8, 2026, the poll showed that 64.3 percent supported the restriction, while 21.9 percent opposed it and 13.8 percent had no opinion. The survey, held on February 3–4 among 800 internet users aged 18 and above, indicated that support for the ban increased with age.

Lower-income respondents and residents of medium-sized cities showed stronger support. Among those earning less than 3,000 zlotys (about 840 dollars) per month, 71.9 percent backed the ban. Lawmakers from Poland’s centrist Civic Coalition are drafting a bill to restrict social media use for children under 15. Former education minister Roman Giertych said the measure aims to protect children from algorithmic influence and addiction risks that could harm their mental health and education.

Poland’s consideration follows similar actions in other countries, including Australia’s ban on under-16 users and regulatory plans announced in France and Spain.

The European Union has declared that TikTok is violating online content regulations and must modify its “addictive” design features to safeguard minors from compulsive use. The European Commission released preliminary findings from its probe on Friday, identifying infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and a personalized recommendation algorithm as elements that encourage addiction. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said TikTok must redesign its service in Europe to protect young users, while Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier noted that the company’s current measures are insufficient.

The Commission stated that these features contribute to compulsive use, posing major risks to children’s mental health and wellbeing, and cited a breach of the Digital Services Act. Regulators warned that TikTok could face a fine of up to 6 percent of ByteDance’s global turnover. TikTok rejected the findings, calling them false and meritless, and vowed to challenge them. The investigation, launched in February 2024, was based on data showing high late-night usage among teens and significant daily screen time among younger users.

The probe reflects the EU’s broader push to impose stricter oversight on major tech and social media platforms to better protect minors online.

A technology report published on February 7, 2026, describes how Google Maps continues to collect and store user location data even when location services are turned off. The article explains that activities performed through various Google apps still send information to Google servers, allowing the Maps timeline to record where and when users travel. Even deleting the timeline does not remove detailed location data from Google’s servers, which may later be used for targeted advertising.

The report outlines several steps to reduce data creation, including regularly deleting activity from the Google Account’s ‘My Activity’ page and using alternative apps that prioritize privacy. It mentions that Waze, being owned by Google, faces similar issues, while Apple Maps offers better privacy but is limited to iPhones. Apps like HereWeGo and MapQuest are suggested as alternatives.

It further advises users to manage smartphone settings carefully, review app permissions, and monitor the Google Maps timeline regularly to delete stored data. The article emphasizes that awareness and proper settings can help maintain privacy even while using Google Maps.