CYBERJAYA: More than half of over 1,500 false news detected by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) are being investigated by the authorities.
MCMC chief operating officer Datuk Dr Mazlan Ismail said 99 per cent of the false news originated from locals staying in Malaysia.
“The remaining one per cent are from Malaysians who have migrated in countries such as Sweden and Australia,” he said at the launch of MCMC’s Malaysian ICT Volunteer with Institutes of higher education.
Also present were MCMC chairman Tan Sri Dr Halim Shafie, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of Multimedia University (MMU), and MMU president Professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Rafi Mohamed Eshaq.
Mazlan said one of the main challenges faced by MCMC was dealing with false news that was spread using fake social media accounts.
“A majority of these false news came from fake accounts or annonymous accounts.
“Once the false news has become viral shared through various platforms like Facebook, they will immediately shut down the accounts.
“It is like a guerilla warfare. At least 30 per cent of the fake news is being disseminated in such manner,” he added.
On Tuesday, MCMC said at Program Bicara BH entitled ‘The Internet and Election’ at Balai Berita that certain movements were using the social media or Internet, to actively spread propaganda of contempt against the government.
The movement’s act were like `factories’ churning false news with its primary aim to dispute the integrity and efficiency of the government, as well as targeting the Malays and Islam.
Asked if MCMC had identified the mastermind of these `factories’, Mazlan said it was difficult to tie the mastermind to the offence since false news could be disseminated by anyone with internet access.
“In the past, such `factories’ will have offices. Now, these factories can be located in someone’s bedroom or at any place.
All it requires is a wireless connection to the internet without the need to have an office.
“All (of those involved) have their respective tasks and execute them,” he said, adding that actions had been taken against more than 40 people under Section 233 of the MCMC Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or network service and 10 have been charged in court.
MCMC Network Security, New Media Monitoring Compliance And Advocacy Sector chief officer Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek said the commission had blocked 46 websites and blogs that spread false news.
“We are in the process to remove 4,618 fake social media accounts which spread false news, based on the respective social media platform’s terms and conditions.,” he said when contacted today.
Dr Fadhlullah said almost all of the false news originated from Malaysia.
“A small number of false news, however, were originally spread in foreign countries, but have been translated and adapted to Malaysian context by irresponsible parties.”