Government to Establish Special Task Force on Social Media Regulation

By The Malketeer

Coming Hard on Digital Miscreants

The Malaysian Government is taking significant steps toward regulating social media by establishing a special task force in the coming days.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that this task force will be dedicated to addressing various aspects of social media regulation and enforcement, bringing together key governmental bodies for this purpose.

Key Stakeholders Involved

The task force will comprise representatives from the Communications Ministry, the Home Ministry, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

This collaborative approach aims to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and intricacies involved in regulating social media platforms.

This decision follows a recent meeting between Communications Minister Fahmi, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Chairperson Mohamad Salim Fateh Din.

During the meeting, it was highlighted that the police require MCMC’s technical assistance in areas such as data preservation and profiling, which are crucial for investigating issues like deepfake content.

Addressing Emerging Challenges

Deepfake technology, a relatively new and complex issue, was a focal point of the discussion.

Fahmi highlighted the importance of collaboration in understanding the evidence, gathering sufficient data, and successfully prosecuting cases in court.

He stressed that addressing the prosecution aspects is crucial, citing a recent case where an individual received a mere RM100 fine, a penalty he deemed unsatisfactory given the gravity of the offence.

Tragic Case of Cyberbullying

Fahmi’s announcement came during his visit to PR Puspa, the mother of the late social media influencer A Rajeswary, known as Esha, in Bandar Baru Ampang.

Esha’s tragic death on July 5, a day after lodging a police report about the cyberbullying she faced, underscores the urgency of the government’s efforts to regulate social media and protect users from online harassment.

Licensing Social Media Platforms

As part of the broader initiative to combat cyberbullying, the MCMC is working diligently to ensure that the licensing process for social media platformmes is implemented smoothly by January 1 of next year.

Fahmi pointed out that many cyberbullying incidents involve fake accounts, and the Ministry is determined to reduce or eliminate these accounts in the future.

In recent discussions with representatives from major social media platforms like X, Meta, TikTok, and WeChat in Singapore, Fahmi reported that these platforms have expressed their willingness to comply with the upcoming licensing requirements.

Over the coming months, MCMC will engage with all stakeholders to develop a comprehensive code of conduct and set standards for social media platforms.

A Step Toward Safer Online Spaces

Fahmi hopes that licensing social media platforms will impose a greater sense of responsibility on these companies.

He emphasised the need for these platforms to take proactive measures against cyberbullying, extremist content, and illegal activities, including drug trafficking and online gambling.