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.

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb announced on Saturday that it accidentally distributed more than $40 billion worth of Bitcoin to customers while attempting to issue promotional rewards. The error occurred on Friday and immediately caused significant operational pressure on the exchange. Bithumb said it managed to recover 99.7 percent of the 620,000 Bitcoins mistakenly sent, valued at about $44 billion. Within 35 minutes of the incident, trading and withdrawals were restricted for 695 affected users.

According to local media, the exchange had planned to give each participant at least 2,000 Korean won in cash as part of a promotional event. However, due to a technical glitch, selected users received at least 2,000 Bitcoins instead. Bithumb stated that the incident was not related to any external hacking or security breach and claimed that its system security and asset management remained intact.

Following the incident, Bitcoin prices on Bithumb temporarily dropped 17 percent to 81.1 million won before recovering to around 104.5 million won later in the evening.

A major cybersecurity concern has emerged after more than 149 million login records were discovered in an unprotected online database. The exposed data included credentials from popular services such as Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Yahoo Mail, Netflix, Outlook, iCloud, and TikTok. The database, found by cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler, was 96 gigabytes in size and lacked any password or encryption protection, allowing anyone with internet access to view it.

The leak did not result from a direct hack of Google or Meta servers but from malware infections on users’ devices. The malware, identified as an infostealer type, collected login data over time through fake software updates, malicious email attachments, harmful browser extensions, and deceptive online ads. Despite being reported to the hosting company, the database remained publicly accessible for nearly a month.

Experts warned that compromised email accounts could allow hackers to reset passwords for other services, putting banking, social media, and healthcare accounts at risk. They urged users to update software, use strong unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and regularly scan devices for malware.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has announced that users must cancel the registration of their mobile phones before transferring or selling them. The directive follows the full implementation of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system, which became fully operational on January 1. According to a notice from BTRC’s Spectrum Division, the NEIR aims to ensure transparency and security in mobile phone management across the country.

BTRC stated that all active mobile phones on the national network have been automatically registered under the NEIR system. The initiative is designed to curb the use of illegal and stolen mobile devices. The commission further clarified that deregistration is also required when changing SIM cards or transferring a registered phone to another user. The process requires the last four digits of the national ID or passport number used during SIM purchase.

For more information, users are advised to visit neir.btrc.gov.bd, call the BTRC helpline at 100, or seek assistance from customer care centers of mobile operators.

An analysis by Tofayel Arif, published on February 2, 2026, highlights the growing cybersecurity risks associated with public internet use in Bangladesh. The report explains that public Wi-Fi networks, available in hotels, restaurants, malls, hospitals, and parks, often lack strong security verification. These open networks allow multiple users to connect without unique credentials, making them vulnerable to data theft and hacking.

The article identifies several major threats, including weak or absent data encryption, man-in-the-middle attacks, fake Wi-Fi networks, social media and email hacking, financial data exposure, malware infections, and unauthorized device control. It warns that children and teenagers are particularly at risk due to lower awareness of online safety. In Bangladesh, the problem is compounded by limited cybersecurity awareness, weak password practices, and disabled two-factor authentication.

The report advises users to avoid banking or sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi, disable auto-connect, use HTTPS websites, log out after use, and consider VPN protection. Regular device and app updates are also recommended to reduce exposure to cyber threats.

Several world leaders’ X (formerly Twitter) accounts were hacked ahead of major elections, highlighting growing misuse of social media. The report notes that U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were among those targeted. In 2020, four months before the U.S. presidential election, a large-scale cyberattack compromised verified accounts of Biden, Obama, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates. Hackers used these accounts to post fraudulent cryptocurrency offers before X regained control after about three hours.

Donald Trump’s X account was breached differently when Dutch cybersecurity researcher Victor Gevers claimed to have accessed it without complex tools, prompting the activation of two-factor authentication. Before the 2016 U.S. election, Russian hackers infiltrated the Democratic National Committee’s emails and leaked data, while accounts of Republican figures were also targeted.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s accounts were hacked multiple times, including in 2020 and 2021. One incident falsely claimed that the Indian government had legalized Bitcoin, after which the account was quickly secured and officials urged the public not to be misled.

Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) has launched a pilot Starlink internet connection to address persistent connectivity problems on campus. The initiative began on Sunday, February 1, with JAKSU Vice President Md. Riazul Islam announcing the start of the trial and General Secretary Abdul Alim Arif confirming its successful activation later that night. The project aims to improve internet access for academic, research, and online learning activities.

According to Arif, slow internet speeds have become a major obstacle for students, and the pilot program seeks a sustainable long-term solution. Riazul Islam explained that although the university currently has a contract with another provider, Starlink is being tested for one to two months to evaluate its performance. The university’s existing Wi-Fi service is provided through a contract with BdREN, and JAKSU plans to compare costs, service quality, and long-term benefits before making a final decision.

If Starlink proves to deliver better service, JAKSU intends to propose its expansion across all university rooms and laboratories in consultation with the administration.

Meta is developing a new Instagram feature that would let users remove themselves from someone else’s Close Friends list. The company told TechCrunch that the feature remains in an early testing phase and is not yet available to general users. Reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi first revealed the change after analyzing app code and sharing screenshots showing that users who leave a Close Friends list will no longer see related stories or content unless re-added.

The Close Friends feature, introduced in 2018, allows users to share stories, reels, or posts with a selected group. Until now, there was no option to voluntarily exit another person’s list. The new control could be welcomed by users seeking more privacy, though some may find it awkward if friends notice their departure. Snapchat already offers a similar option, leaving Instagram comparatively behind in this area.

Meta is also testing subscription-based features across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. While details remain undisclosed, early indications suggest premium tools could include expanded audience lists and enhanced privacy controls. Meta emphasized that core experiences will stay free, with subscriptions aimed at users seeking extra control and features.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has denied allegations that personal data of 14,000 journalists were leaked from its website. The EC explained that for a short period, applicant information for journalist and observer accreditation cards was visible on the site but could not be downloaded. The issue arose after complaints surfaced on Saturday, prompting the EC to clarify that the visibility occurred while the site was being worked on, not due to hacking or data theft.

According to EC Public Relations Director Ruhul Mallik, the application portal for journalists was closed on Thursday following objections, and the observer application section was being shut down on Saturday. Some registered users who logged into their dashboards could temporarily view the admin panel, which led to confusion about a data breach. Mallik emphasized that no external party accessed or misused the data.

The EC recently developed the pr.ecs.gov.bd website to process applications for journalists and election observers online for the first time. However, due to technical and information-handling issues, the commission decided to revert to manual applications for the upcoming February 12 referendum and parliamentary elections.

An ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s coalition government, Member of Parliament L. S. K. Devarayalu, on Friday proposed a bill to ban social media use for children under 16. The proposal, titled the Social Media (Age Limit and Online Safety) Bill, seeks to prohibit minors from creating, using, or maintaining social media accounts, with platforms required to deactivate such accounts and verify user ages. The initiative comes amid global discussions on youth safety and mental health, particularly in major markets for platforms like Meta, YouTube, and X.

Devarayalu argued that Indian children are not only addicted to social media but that Indian user data is being exploited by foreign platforms to develop advanced artificial intelligence systems, with strategic and economic benefits flowing abroad. India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market with 750 million devices and one billion internet users, currently has no minimum age limit for social media use.

The bill, introduced as a private member’s bill, is not government-sponsored but could influence parliamentary debate. Similar restrictions have been adopted or studied in countries such as Australia, France, Britain, Denmark, and Greece.

Bangladesh’s Aspire to Innovate (a2i) program under the ICT Division and two Gambian ministries—the Ministry of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination and Delivery, and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy—signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Dhaka to expand cooperation in information technology and e-governance. The signing took place on Thursday at a hotel in Dhaka, with Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, attending as chief guest.

The agreement builds on the partnership initiated last year when Gambia adopted Bangladesh’s MyGov platform. Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb said the initiative would serve as an effective example of collaboration among Global South countries and praised both nations for developing citizen-friendly service solutions. ICT Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury emphasized prioritizing citizen experience, noting that digital systems gain importance only when they simplify access to services and ensure fairness.

The MoU is expected to strengthen digital governance collaboration between Bangladesh and Gambia, advancing shared goals of efficient, citizen-centric public service delivery.

Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) and the government’s Aspire to Innovate (a2i) program signed a memorandum of understanding at the university’s Shaheed Dr. Milton Hall on Wednesday. The agreement aims to implement paperless administrative operations at BMU and enhance healthcare services through the use of information and communication technology.

Under the MoU, BMU will introduce a digital payment system to make financial transactions related to medical services, education, and research more transparent and efficient. The university’s service fees and bills will be integrated with a2i’s ‘EkPay’ platform, enabling payments through mobile financial services, digital wallets, online banking, debit and credit cards, and agent banking. The initiative is expected to reduce manual hassles and promote a cashless environment across the institution.

Speakers at the event expressed optimism that this digital transformation would help BMU evolve into a modern and smart medical institution, improving patient convenience and supporting the digital preservation of health records.