Anti-Fake News Act not to deny freedom of expression

KULIM: The people should be made to understand that the recently gazetted Anti-Fake News Act is not intended to deny them of the right to express their opinion in the social media, said Communications and Multimedia Ministry deputy secretary-general (operations) Datuk Dr. Mohd Ali Mohamad Nor.

He said the law was more on providing protection from the dissemination of fake news which could be detrimental to an individual, institution and even the country.

“Most importantly, we want to ensure the person who disseminates fake news cannot escape. The person must be responsible for sharing of information, which has to be true, healthy and verified.

“This also encompasses negative conduct on the social media, such as bullying,” he told reporters at the “Menghubung Menyatu@ Malaysia Inklusif Negara Digital” (Minda) programme at Dataran Kulim here yesterday.

The programme was opened by Kedah Science, Innovation and Information Technology, Communications and HighTechnology and human Resource Committee chairman Datuk Noorsabrina Mohd Noor.

The three-day programme, to end tomorrow, is aimed at fostering clocer relations between the people and the government and at the same time, to build an information society.

A total of 26 agencies, including providers of broadband services, distributors of ICT equipment, as well as federal and state agencies, were involved in the programme.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ali said the social media was the easiest medium to be used to be close with the people.