Stringent laws, registration of users may curb abuse on social media

has millions of users worldwide and offers account holders numerous ways to interact with friends and to be active on the social platform.

Facebook enables users to stay connected with people and events in the world.

It is also used as a medium of exchange of knowledge between educators, like myself, and students, as well as a way to direct others to events or products.

Facebook has a lot of benefits. Even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has a Facebook page, “Najib Razak”, which connects him with Malaysians.

The government has introduced laws to regulate cyberworld, including Facebook, from being abused like the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588), Computer Crimes Act 1997 (Act 563), Sedition Act 1948 (Act 15), Defamation Act 1957 (Act 286) and Penal Code (Act 574).

In early 2012, the government took another step to combat Internet abuse by introducing Section 11 (4A) of the Evidence Act 1950 (Act 56), which extends the Malaysian Evidence Act 1950 to address Internet anonymity.

Section 11 (4A) states: “A person whose name, photograph or pseudonym appears on any publication depicting himself as the owner, host, administrator, editor, sub-editor or who in any manner facilitates to publish or republish the publication is presumed to have published or republished the contents of the publication, unless the contrary is proved”.

Further strengthening of the law may be needed to curb Internet abuse.

As most online users use fake Facebook accounts to spread rumours or false information, compulsory registration of Facebook accounts with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is necessary.

Mandatory registration will allow the authorities to monitor online abuse. It will also encourage users to use social media wisely.

Such an approach may be difficult to implement given the millions of accounts available, but a similar approach was successfully undertaken by the government in 2006 when it directed all telcos to register new prepaid SIM card users. The measure was to check abuse, such as spreading libelous remarks via the short message service.

Whatever measures the authorities may consider taking, closing down Facebook will not solve the issue of Internet abuse as irresponsible individuals may use other means to do harm. What is needed is stringent enforcement of laws, and enacting new laws and regulations to curb cybercrime.

DR MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW

Senior lecturer, Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia