More input required before draft on fake news bill is finalised

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said yesterday said that more input was required from stakeholders before the new law to stop the spread of fake news could be finalised.
In a statement uploaded on her Facebook page, Azalina, who is in charge of parliamentary affairs, said a discussion with representatives of social media platform providers including Google, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Asia Internet Coalition was held at Parliament House yesterday.
She said the meeting was held to obtain more views and inputs from key players of the new media in an effort to introduce the Fake News Bill.
"The social media platform providers reacted positively to the group discussion. This meeting is important to ensure that the bill being drafted is comprehensive and covers all aspects.
"This is also a proof that the government practices inclusive policy making," she said in commenting on the meeting which was also participated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Azalina said that the bill was also being drafted to protect all layers of society from being victimised by fake news.
"I am confident that this bill will be able to meet current developments and needs in tackling the global fake news and information phenomenon from spreading and festering in the country," she added.
Apart from the meeting with social media platform providers, a workshop on the fake news was organised by a special committee for relevant government agencies at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (Malaysia) on Monday. — Bernama