A SPECIAL task force will be established next week to discuss aspects of social media regulation and enforcement, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said, as reported by Bernama.

He said the task force would include representatives from the Ministry of Communications, the Home Ministry, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

This decision follows a meeting held three days ago between Fahmi, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din.

“The police require MCMC’s technical assistance for data preservation and profiling, so we will establish this special task force in the coming days to thoroughly understand the issues faced by Deputy Public Prosecutors.

“For example, the issue of deepfake investigations, which is relatively new and may require cooperation to understand the evidence, gather sufficient data, and present it in court,” Fahmi was quoted as saying by Bernama today in Bandar Baru Ampang, after handing over personal donations to PR Puspa, the mother of the late social media influencer A. Rajeswary, also known as Esha, at her home.

Fahmi said addressing prosecution aspects is crucial to avoid outcomes like the recent case where an individual was fined RM100, which he found unsatisfactory.

Esha was found dead in a condominium unit in Setapak on 5 July, a day after lodging a police report regarding the cyberbullying she was experiencing.

To combat cyberbullying, Fahmi said the ministry, particularly MCMC, is working to ensure that the licensing process for social media platforms is implemented smoothly by 1 January next year.

“We have observed that those involved in cyberbullying often use fake accounts, and we aim to reduce or eliminate these fake accounts in the future.

“After my recent meeting with representatives from X, Meta, TikTok, and WeChat in Singapore, they expressed their willingness to be licensed. We are currently reviewing guidelines, and from August 1 until the end of the year, MCMC will meet with all stakeholders, including social media platforms, to develop a code of conduct and standards for social media platforms,” Fahmi said in the report.  – August 18, 2024.