Jail time to be imposed for fake news in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has approved a law against “fake news” that would allow for a prison sentence of up to six years for offenders, shrugging off critics who said it was aimed at curbing dissent and free speech before the elections.

Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government yesterday secured a majority in parliament to pass the Anti-Fake News Bill, which sets out fines of up to 500 000 ringgit (R1.5 million) and a maximum of six years’ in jail. The first draft of the bill had proposed a jail sentence of up to 10 years.

The government said the law would not impinge on freedom of speech and cases under it would be handled through an independent court process. “This law aims to protect the public from the spread of fake news, while allowing freedom of speech as provided for under the constitution,” Law Minister Azalina Othman Said told parliament.

The law defines fake news as “news, information, data and reports which is or are wholly or partly false” and includes features, visuals and audio recordings.

It covers digital publications and social media and will apply to offenders who maliciously spread “fake news” inside and outside Malaysia, including foreigners, if Malaysia or a Malaysian citizen were affected.

Co-opted by US President Donald Trump, the term “fake news” has become part of the repertoire of leaders in authoritarian countries to describe media reports and organisations critical of themselves.

UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye earlier yesterday urged the Malaysian government not to rush the legislation.

“I urge the government to reconsider the bill and open it up to regular and genuine public scrutiny before taking any further steps,” Kaye said in a Twitter post.

Other countries in South-East Asia, including Singapore and the Philippines, are considering how to tackle “fake news”, but human rights activists fear that laws against it could be used to stifle free speech.

Malaysia is among the first few countries to introduce a law against it. Germany approved a plan last year to fine social media networks if they fail to remove hateful postings.

The country already has an arsenal of laws to clamp down on unfavourable news or social media posts. – Reuters