KUALA LUMPUR – The Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF), is committed to ensuring that all online content related to suicide is reported responsibly and ethically.
In a parliamentary written response to Young Syefura Othman (Bentong-PH), the Communications Ministry said that content posted on social media platforms must adhere to Content Code 2022, which clearly prohibits any content that is humorous or derogatory towards mental health, discriminatory against persons with mental disabilities, or any other content that could be considered insulting or offensive to them.
Young Syefura was asking if the ministry had plans to collaborate with social media companies Meta, Snap, and TikTok, together with The Mental Health Coalition, to form an initiative called Thrive to curb suicide-related and mental health content.
“In this regard, CMCF is working with industry players, mental health advocates, medical practitioners, and the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health under the Health Ministry to develop ethical guidelines for reporting and sharing content related to suicide.
“These guidelines aim, among other things, to promote responsible content practices that balance the public’s right to know with the need to prevent harm.
“CMCF is also collaborating closely with service providers, including Meta, in implementing the Creators IRL programme, which aims to equip content creators with the knowledge, tools, and experience to address online threats and produce safe and beneficial content.
“The responsible sharing of content related to suicide and the importance of mental health in navigating the online world is also part of CMCF’s modules for this programme,” read the written reply.
Meanwhile, in a response to Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong’s (Ayer Hitam-BN) question regarding actions against cyberbullying and whether the ministry is considering measures against social media comments and instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, the Communications Ministry said it had adopted an integrated approach through the Online Crime Task Force.
The task force, comprising various ministries, departments, and agencies, aims to harmonise efforts for legal review and develop new acts to address online crimes such as cyberbullying, the ministry explained in a written response.
“The government has also conducted legal reviews to address gaps in existing laws, enabling more effective enforcement and prosecution of cyberbullies through amendments to the Penal Code (Act 574) and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588), as well as developing the Online Safety Bill, which will introduce specific provisions against cyberbullying.
Through MCMC, the Communications Ministry is also enhancing regulatory and enforcement actions against parties involved in cyberbullying on social media and instant messaging apps like WhatsApp. For applications with end-to-end encryption, actions will be taken based on public complaints.
The government has also gazetted the licensing requirement for online platform service providers to ensure more comprehensive regulation and enforcement, covering internet messaging and social media service providers under Act 588 as of August 1, 2024, and will be effective from 1 January 2025.
“This is to ensure that they are responsible and play a significant role in creating a safer online ecosystem for their platform users, which includes effectively addressing harmful content by strengthening their systems and processes to reduce cybercrimes such as online fraud, sexual crimes particularly against children, and cyberbullying.
“The public, who are victims or aware of others being victims of online harm, including cyberbullying, are encouraged to come forward and file complaints with MCMC.
“Complaints can be submitted through the official MCMC complaint channels so that appropriate action can be taken by MCMC or other relevant enforcement agencies,” the written ministry added. – October 15, 2024