MCMC: WE WILL GET YOU IN 24 HOURS
Authority says swift action can be taken if it receives ‘detailed complaints’
THE Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) can track down anyone who spreads fake news within 24 hours of the offence.
Such action can be taken by the authorities if it receives “detailed complaints” regarding offences under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, including sharing and spreading false news.
MCMC network security and enforcement sector chief officer Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin said more than 40 people had been investigated under the act last year, with four of them charged.
He said the tendency to share personal information such as phone numbers, residences, vehicle registration numbers and family members’ information in social media, facilitates MCMC’s inquiry into false news spreaders.
“Most of them do not know the source of their news, but continue to spread it to other groups, either through Whatsapp or Facebook.
“Although they are not the authors of the information or the news and are just sharing and disseminating to other social media users, they can be prosecuted if there is strong evidence.”
Zulkarnain was a panellist at the second series of Berita Harian’s (BH) Forum Bicara held at Balai Berita yesterday, which discussed the impact of information sharing and fake news. Other panel members included the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) chairman Datuk Ahmad Izham Omar and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Department of Human Ecology senior lecturer Dr Mohammad Nidzam Abdul Kadir.
The forum titled “Tidak Pasti Jangan Kongsi” (When in doubt, don’t share) was organised by BH in collaboration with the MCMC, which aimed to raise public awareness of the impact of false information sharing on the country’s economy, security and peace, apart from the reputation of individuals.
BH organised the programme as a platform to foster a culture of knowledge-sharing and play a role in providing intellectual, informative and up-to-date content.
Zulkarnain said it was unfortunate that most of those who were charged with offences were people who did not have any interest in spreading false news, but only wanted to share information with friends.
“The real masterminds with their own agenda are those who have fled abroad and obtained political asylum overseas. They do not share personal information publicly on social media, unlike most people, who make it easy for authorities to take action.”
He said besides being detained for interrogation, authorities would seize the means of communication used in the dissemination of false news, with those found guilty of the offence being fined up to RM50,000 or jailed for a year.
Zulkarnain said the commission had never curbed the freedom of people to share information in cyberspace, but they should be responsible for regulating themselves and any information they searched and obtained from the Internet.
“Restrictions on the dissemination of information will only be imposed if the information shared goes beyond acceptable limits.
“MCMC only restricts information that can threaten national security, such as criminal or fraudulent websites, as well as pornographic sites.
“If the information provides useful knowledge to the public, we encourage them to get it,” he said, adding that the rapid development of information technology made it difficult for MCMC to restrict informationsharing.
In order to create a clean and healthy social media ecosystem, he said Malaysians needed to enhance their knowledge, including enhancing their own digital literacy skills.