10,406 complaints over cyber-bullying between 2016 and Sept 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications and Multimedia Ministry received 10,406 complaints concerning online harassments between 2016 and September 2020.

According to the Ministry, the complaints included cases of cyber-bullying, sexual harassment, threats and the abuse of personal details to defame an individual.

During the same period, 796 cases on the abuse of social media were investigated by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

“From this number, 56 cases were brought before the courts, ” said the Ministry in a written reply dated Nov 10.

The ministry was responding to a question from Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria (BN-Parit), who asked for the number of cyber-bullying cases that were reported, as well as efforts by the government to curb cyber-bullying.

The ministry said among the proactive approaches taken to curb cyberbullying was to educate the public to be ethical social media users through advocacy.

“For example, the ministry, through the Communications and Multimedia Commission and Cyber Security Malaysia have started awareness and education programmes to foster the culture of ethical social media usage, ” it said.

The ministry also said that it was currently collaborating with the Multimedia University (MMU) to conduct studies on laws to curb cyber-bullying.

“Findings from the report will help in developing the best mechanisms to address cyberbullying, ” it added.