KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is considering adopting a licensing and regulatory framework relating to major online platforms, including Meta and Google, in a move to regulate digital platforms and the dissemination of harmful content.
The move is also to address the dissemination of online harm pertinent to child sexual abuse material, online gambling, content inciting 3R (race, royalty, and religion) discontent, scams and phishing, the sale and promotion of illegal drugs and prohibited substances, impersonation, the spread of disinformation, and fake news.
The Communication and Digital Ministry (KKD) and MCMC also aim to implement “the rules of the road” for fair practice to ensure digital platforms provide fair compensation for news content creators.
This includes plans to encourage fair competition, strengthen intellectual property rights, and protect consumers from online harm and privacy.
“Following Australia’s passing of the world’s first Mandatory News Media Bargaining Code, which has led Google and Meta to make voluntary compensation agreements with news outlets, this has served as an example of the importance of fair compensation. Similarly, Canada’s Bill C-11 aims to regulate streaming platforms and requires them to support Canadian content.
“In emulating the example of both Australia and Canada, KKD and MCMC’s engagement with online platforms demonstrates their commitment to addressing digital market challenges.
“Among these challenges is the imbalance in income for traditional advertising expenditure (adex) between digital platforms and local media to ensure fair compensation for news content creators.
“Additionally, this effort goes beyond paying news creators and is the beginning of a revolution in artificial intelligence technology. KKD and MCMC acknowledge the importance of this technology and aim to implement the rules of the road for its implementation for fair and wise practice,” said MCMC today.
This was a result of a discussion that took place yesterday at MCMC headquarters in Cyberjaya, which was co-chaired by KKD secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and MCMC chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din.
The discussion was also attended by MCMC commission member Derek Fernandez and the Malaysian police.
TikTok has also been scheduled for a meeting to discuss the same focal points. – September 5, 2023