KKMM mulls cooperation with private companies to address fake news, online frauds

The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) is actively refining its efforts to address online fraud cases and the spread of fake news by engaging with private companies to curb the problem.

Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said that the involvement of the private companies will provide cyber security services to protect the users' personal data and information.

"Currently, at the ministry level, we are in talks with several companies to realise this cooperation by introducing a payment gateway fee where a small fee is likely to be charged on any online purchase, but it is still under discussion," he said this to reporters after launching the Penang Women Going Digital programme here today.

He said that the move was seen to be able to curb online fraud cases as well as to protect against any intrusion of users' data and personal information by irresponsible parties.

"The fee that will be imposed on consumers is very small, for example, for online purchase of RM1,000, about 0.02 per cent or 20 sen will be charged.

He said that with the fee, apart from preventing any intrusion of personal data, it could also curb cases of online frauds or scams.

Meanwhile, for fake news issue, he said that currently the number of investigation papers which had been opened stood at 266 with 30 were already charged in court.

"It shows that the proactive measures implemented by the government through the Sebenarnya.my portal as well as the fast-moving team under the ministry in providing true and authentic information to the community, to some extent, has curbed the spread of fake news," he said.

Zahidi also said that Internet usage among Malaysians currently reaches 26.69 million.

"The increase in Internet usage is at 3.1 million compared with last year, in fact it is also seen to have increase when the country is placed under the Movement Control Order (MCO)," he said, adding that initiatives to reduce the digital divide between rural and urban areas have been increased.

-- BERNAMA