Who decides what is fake news?

PETALING JAYA: The tabling of the Fake News Bill in Parliament today raises a lot of questions on who determines it is fake and will this silence the public of their freedom of expression.

Pribumi Communication Chief Datuk Kamarudin Md Nor questioned on who decides what is fake news. "Who decides if this a fake news or not?" he asked.
He said this goes totally against what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak mentioned that " the era of government knows everything is over," especially with the current information age.
"If the government is the sole decision maker on this, is this a dictator government or a democratic government?"
Kamaruddin said it is "a desperate move by the government to shut up critics," adding, there is enough laws in the country like Seditious Act and others to handle matters on this and there was no need for any new law.

Prof James Chin the Inaugural Director of the Asia Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, said: "The law is targeted at the opposition and its supporters."
It was rushed due to the General Election that is coming up next month, he said, adding that the maximum 10-year jail term is very long and he suspects many in the legal community will be unhappy.
"The law is also in a general way states that, social media users can also be charged under this law if the fake news they post ends up going viral."

However, Associate Prof Dr Jeniri Amir of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak said the tabling of the fake news act is timely, taking into consideration that it has become a phenomena especially in social media.
"The will make social media owners to become more responsible before posting, especially now with the high fine and long jail term."
If this will curb freedom of speech and expression, he said: " There is no such thing as total freedom. Yes, freedom comes with responsibility but it should not be abused."
Jeniri hopes, the Bill "will not be abused or used as an instrument by the authorities concern."

Merdeka Centre Executive Director, Ibrahim Suffian said, at this point, this law when put into full use, "will dampen public discussion of issues and sharing of information".
However, he added that it is uncertain whether it will curb sensational news from still going viral as the speed of transmission is pretty rapid these days.
"I suppose the authorities will have to put in the necessary resources to enforce it. If it is perceived to be one sided, it may have long term detrimental consequences," he told theSun.