MCMC ordered to meet Google, Twitter and Facebook over false information online

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak has ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to seek the cooperation of social media platform providers - Facebook, Google and Twitter, in curbing the increasing tide of false information from spreading via their social media applications.

“The issue of false information has recently taken centre stage in the media, especially online news portals,” he said in his blog, today.

“Although these three social media platform providers have been cooperating with various Malaysian authorities, the level of cooperation needs to be stepped up,” he added.

He said in 2014, about 78 percent of MCMC's requests for removal of content were acted upon by social media providers, with FB acting approximately 81 per cent of MCMC's requests.

“Latest figures as at end of July 2015 shows that 49 percent have been acted upon, 33 percent by YouTube, 42 percent by Facebook. While social media providers have been cooperative, we are requesting them to be more sensitive with our local environment,” he added.

Salleh said although the authorities can restrict access or block such applications, they will not do so as the majority of social media users are using such applications positively.

“However, this does not mean that the public can post information unchecked without respect or regard to the law,” he said.

Salleh said there are laws in the country over the spread of false and unverified information.

“The online environment is not a lawless space and action can be taken against anyone found to have breached the law, including in the online space,” he said.

“Bear in mind that publishing or posting sensitive or unverified information might potentially spark an untoward situation likely to jeopardise public safety,” he added.

He said as a responsible government, deeper cooperation from social media providers is vital in the public interest to help authorities to uphold the laws and keep citizens of this country safe from harm.