Malaysian authorities call for more help from social networks to quash internet “rumours”

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is set to engage internet and social media networks such as Facebook, Google and Twitter to handle "rumours and false information" on the Internet.

Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said that the issue of false information has recently taken "centre stage in the media, especially online news portals."

Hence, the MCMC has been instructed to meet social media platform providers – Facebook, Google and Twitter – to seek the cooperation of these to "stem the increasing tide of false information and rumours from spreading via their social media applications". He added that while these three social media platform providers have been cooperating with various Malaysian authorities, "the level of cooperation needs to be stepped up".

This was from a blog entry written by Salleh.

He also added that there are laws in the country to govern the spread of false information, and while it is possible for authorities to restrict these applications – at present this will not be done, as a majority of social media users are "using such applications positively". Read the whole post here.

Meanwhile, A+M has reached out to the three firms for comment.

Source: Malaysian authorities call for more help from social networks to quash internet "rumours"