A special task force will be formed this week to address social media regulation and enforcement, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
The task force will comprise representatives from the Ministry of Communications, the Home Ministry, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Fahmi revealed this decision followed a meeting with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din three days prior.
“The police require MCMC’s technical assistance for data preservation and profiling, so we will establish this special task force in the coming days to thoroughly understand the issues faced by Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPPs),” Fahmi explained during a visit to PR Puspa, mother of late social media influencer A Rajeswary, known as Esha, at her Bandar Baru Ampang residence on 18 August 2024.
He added, “For instance, the issue of deepfake investigations, which is relatively new and may require cooperation to understand the evidence, gather sufficient data, and bring it in court.”
The minister emphasised the importance of improving prosecution aspects to avoid unsatisfactory outcomes, referencing a recent case where an individual received a mere RM100 fine.
To combat cyberbullying, Fahmi stated that the ministry, particularly MCMC, is working to implement a smooth licensing process for social media platforms by 1 January next year.
“We observe that those involved in cyberbullying often use fake accounts, and we aim to reduce or eliminate these fake accounts in the future,” he said, adding that representatives from major social media platforms, including X, Meta, TikTok, and WeChat, have expressed willingness to be licensed following a recent meeting in Singapore.
The MCMC will consult with stakeholders to develop a code of conduct and standards for social media platforms between 1 August and year-end.
Fahmi hopes that licensing will instil a greater sense of responsibility in social media platforms, stating, “We hope that with licensing, social media platforms will have a duty of care and be more responsible, taking action in cases of cyberbullying, extremist content, and illegal activities such as drug trafficking and online gambling.”
This initiative comes in the wake of Esha’s tragic death on 5 July in a Setapak condominium, a day after she reported cyberbullying to the police.
