Social media restrictions needed to combat harmful info, says Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right), deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and guests listening to the address by Perak’s Sultan Nazrin Shah at the opening of the 7th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilisation in Ipoh today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the government is introducing regulations on social media and internet messaging services to counter the spread of harmful information.

In a speech in Ipoh, Anwar also implied that the regulations were in response to the cyberbullying of TikTok influencer A Rajeswary, who reportedly took her own life.

Rajeswary, 29, was found dead at her home in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, on July 5. The Hindu rights activist, also known as Esha, had filed a police report the day before against two people for allegedly harassing her on TikTok.

The government is introducing some restrictions, which may not be popular,

 said Anwar at the opening of the 7th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilisation (WCIT) today.

“Those who believe in unbridled freedom feel they have every right to express their views, regardless of the impact on society. (They even) ignore the fact that girls feel compelled to commit suicide because of this sort of harassment.

The challenge is to place order and values above the expressions of individual freedom, which are done at the expense of peace and order.

Last Saturday, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that all social media and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must apply for a licence.

In a statement, MCMC said the new regulations will apply to social media platforms, and not users, and are likely to affect platforms such as WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Telegram, WeChat, Snapchat, and Line.

MCMC said the licence will be introduced on Aug 1, with enforcement effective from Jan 1 next year. The new policy is aimed at creating a safer internet environment for children and families.

Failure to obtain a licence after the effective date would be an offence, which can be punishable under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).

The commission said the new regulatory framework is in line with the Cabinet’s decision that social media services and internet messaging services must comply with Malaysian laws to combat the rise in cybercrime offences including scams and online fraud, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes against children. - FMT