PUTRAJAYA – A new law to allow a “kill switch” on social media platforms will be tabled in Parliament this October, said law minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The kill switch would place responsibility on social media service providers and internet messaging service providers to tackle online scams, cyberbullying, dissemination of child sexual abuse materials, as well as harassment and sexual extortion, she said in a statement today.
“This is in line with legislative initiatives enforced in various other countries.
“The new law will encompass provisions on procedures and enforcement of the ‘kill switch’ to increase digital security,” Azalina said.
This kill switch for social media follows moves by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to begin the licensing of social media services effective January 1 next year, also announced recently.
The MCMC has said the licensing will come under a new regulatory framework for social media and internet messaging services to be introduced this August.
In further moves to prevent cyberbullying, Azalina added the government was also reviewing proposals to amend the Penal Code to classify and define cyberbullying offences.
Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code to ensure that provisions on cyberbullying offences could be effectively enforced are also in store, she added.
Azalina said Universiti Sains Malaysia, in collaboration with the legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Department and the MCMC, would conduct a social study on online safety through a public opinion survey.
The survey is aimed at gathering views and sentiments from various parties, including the public, on issues related to cybersecurity.
Azalina said the study would complement the government’s efforts in drafting online safety laws to ensure that the regulations to be enforced in the future were holistic, relevant and covered all aspects, protecting all levels of society. – July 28, 2024