MCMC moves to curb fake news

BERA: Action has been taken against almost 1,500 fake accounts on social media by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) between January and June this year.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said the MCMC had received complaints that these fake accounts were being used for negative purposes, such as the spread of fake news and information.

The fake accounts were found on, among others, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“The false information includes political issues and about politicians in this country,” he told reporters after opening the Bera Umno division meeting here yesterday.

Also present was Bera MP Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister.

Dr Salleh, who is also Umno treasurer, said among the action taken by MCMC was to report these accounts to the social media providers for removal as well as to carry out further investigation.

He also urged netizens who came across accounts suspected to be fake or publishing fake news and information to report them to the social media providers.

MCMC, he said, was also studying whether to make online media register with the agency.

“Any portal or website that can be categorised as online media needs to be registered so that it can be monitored and action taken should it publish fake or malicious news,” he said.

In his speech, Ismail Sabri appealed for the Bera district information office to be reopened and streamlined with the one in Temerloh.

“We (Bera) have become a district. So, we are asking for the information office to be re-established to facilitate party work in the area,” he said.

Salleh said the request would be considered. — Bernama