KUALA LUMPUR — In an era where the lines between free expression and ethical responsibility are increasingly blurred, the Malaysia Content Forum (MCF) is working to restore balance, says CEO Mediha Mahmood.
Speaking on Scoop Insight, with hosts Shazmin Shamsuddin and Azim Idris, Mediha explained the growing urgency of responsible content creation in a world where “everyone with a device that can record is a content creator.”
“Content is coming at us from everywhere to everyone in every form,” she said.
“So when you talk about ethics, it’s purely the fact that we can exercise our creativity and our freedom of speech — but the barrier there is if it harms others.”
She pointed out that journalists and traditional news outlets are often held to high standards, but netizens often cross the line — posting disturbing images and videos of suicide victims, accident scenes, or children involved in crimes, without context or empathy.
“When we speak to reporters, they say, ‘We know what not to do’ — but the ones posting these pictures online are the ones getting all the engagement.
“We need to ask: why do you want to see the graphic details of someone’s worst day?”
Highlighting the Elmina plane crash, where the public learned about the tragic crash from social media before families were officially informed, Mediha said the issue is twofold: creators posting inappropriate content, and consumers demanding it.
“The reporter writes a story, and the first comments will be ‘Ada video ke?’, ‘Come to my Telegram, I’ve got the footage,’” she said.
“We need a community that calls this out and says, ‘Why are you asking for this?’”
While the MCF doesn’t police or censor content directly, it promotes ethical practices through the Content Code — a set of standards developed with public input and enforced via a Complaints Bureau comprising industry and civil society representatives.
“Whatever is illegal offline is illegal online as well. We’re not here to dictate what you can or cannot do. We’re just telling you what the standards are — and why they matter.”
Even major platforms like TikTok have come under scrutiny, with some news outlets having their accounts banned over content involving child abuse cases. Mediha said this led to discussions with TikTok and eventual reinstatements, but warned that such issues are complex.
“We explained why those videos should not have been published — not even pixelated stills — because it retraumatises the child. But the lack of legitimate news on these platforms leaves space for misinformation.”
Ultimately, Mediha said the MCF’s role is not just regulatory, but educational — especially as influencers and netizens increasingly drive online narratives.
“If influencers are influencing in the right way, isn’t that a great thing?” she asked.
“We’re not toothless, but real change also requires the public to step up and take responsibility.” — July 23, 2025