Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), a prominent human rights non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Malaysia, has raised serious concerns about the government’s plans to regulate social media platforms.
The government wanted to regulate the social media platforms by enforcing a content code, including specific guidelines for political content, audit the content moderation processes and algorithms, and implement a “kill switch” for removing objectionable content.
LFL in a statement said these proposed regulations represent an unlawful and authoritarian attempt to suppress online criticism of the government.
LFL’s director, Zaid Malek, expressed shock and dismay at the government’s actions, which he sees as part of a broader trend to stifle freedom of speech under the pretense of addressing harmful or illegal content.
He criticised the government for acting in its own self-interest while pretending to serve the public, likening their tactics to those of authoritarian regimes.
LFL also stresses the importance of public criticism in a democracy and warns that the government’s instillation of fear undermines democratic principles.
Ironically, Zaid said that the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which relied on online platforms to rise to power, now seeks to impose severe restrictions on them.
LFL urges the government to reconsider these plans, as they would undermine the Constitution and push Malaysia toward dictatorial rule.
The government has begun to semi-regulate social media platforms, with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issuing takedown requests on TikTok and Meta’s platforms. The regulatory body said it was to protect social media users and not to impose censorship.
