Curbing fake news through 1Malaysia internet centres

RAUB: The 1Malaysia (PI1M) Internet Centres, developed by the government through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), have the role of spreading the "Tidak Pasti, Jangan Kongsi" (Unsure, Don't Share) message in combating the dissemination of fake news in the country.
MCMC's Security, Network and Enforcement Sector chief officer, Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin said the PI1M were not only centres that provided broadband Internet access but also shouldered the responsibility, as frontliners, in curbing the spread of fake news.
He said that at the early stage of its establishment, the PI1M was viewed as providing an opportunity for the rural communities to enjoy the communications technology facility for the development of the digital economy in these areas. However, eventually, its role was expanded to inculcate ethical and wise use of the Internet.
"After broadband Internet access was made available to the rural areas, the people there need to be equipped with knowledge in the ethical and civil use of the Internet so that the spread of fake news can be checked," said Zulkarnain when met at a sebenarnya.my roadshow at the Batu Talam Open Hall in Raub recently.
He said the PI1M, in highlighting the importance of MCMC's sebenarnya.my portal, could inculcate among the local community, the habit of first checking the validity of information received before believing and disseminating it to others.
"The PI1M management needs to be the prime agent in helping MCMC curb fake news by giving exposure to the public on the sebenarnya.my portal as a one-stop centre to verify the information they received online," he said.
Zulkarnain regards the PI1M management as the nucleus to tell whether a viralled message or issue is true, and in fact, the sebenarnya.my portal should be made a platform of reference for the local community to verify news or information received.
He also sees fake news as a poison that is destructive to public thinking, hence creating bigger problems.
Meanwhile, PI1M Mutiara 1, Raub manager, Norhamizah Zulkifli said the centre always spread MCMC's advocacy message through a module that highlighted the issue of disseminating fake news.
"The PI1M here will enlighten visitors who use its services on the dangers of fake news which has become the country's enemy, besides educating the community on the functions of the sebenarnya.my portal.
"Through this learning process, the local community will understand the importance of verifying information received and not to simply or arbitrarily spread news, the validity of which is doubted."
Norhamizah said the local PI1M also organised programmes and activities such as dashboard games, quiz and short video competition on the 'Unsure, Don't Share' theme as part of initiatives to publicise the sebenarnya.my portal.
PI1M Batu Talam manager, Nor Sharizah Abd Razak said the local folk were now frequent visitors to the Internet centre to share information they received online, with the centre.
"The elderly, especially, always come here to find out whether the news they received via WhatsApp or Facebook is true or not, and the PI1M together with these visitors would check on its validity via sebenarnya.my.
"If the information is found to be untrue, we will advise them not to disseminate it to others. This way, they will make it a habit to check first with this portal," she said.
Organised for the third time in Pahang, the sebenarnya.my roadshow in Batu Talam was aimed at educating the local community on the importance of choosing news for one's knowledge and to verify the content before sharing it with others.
"MCMC has found that most of the fake news are viralled to the urban community but with this roadshow programme, the 'Unsure, Don't Share' message could be spread far and wide including to the rural community, said Zulkarnian.
Commending the good cooperation of the Batu Talam community through the various activities organised during the roadshow, he said their response to the programme was very encouraging.
The community activities held during the roadshow included aerobic exercise, agency exhibition, Lego building competition involving Kemas kindergarten children, a briefing on Internet security and the sebenarnya.my portal, and talks on fake news as the country's enemy by Ustaz Don Daniyal and Ustaz Harryanto Rizal.

MCMC's seven-point guideline on verifying news received:
1. Check first. Find out who the writer is; his/her real identity, qualifications and background in relation to the content of the write-up.
2. Understand the story. See whether the information is based on facts or just based on the writer's own opinions and experience.
3. Check out the writer's intention. What he/she is trying to convey through the content.
4. Old story? Ensure it's the latest information and not a recycled story. For websites, check the last time a piece of news or information was updated.
5. Compare the original source with a number of other sources that have credibility.
6. Find balance in the value of the information from various angles, and not only from opinions that are the same as yours.
7. The bait to click! Be cautious with sensational headings, as maybe it's news or information that is manipulated to reap profits or to commit cyber crime. — Bernama