MCMC, PDRM will step up monitoring of fake news, hate speech ahead of state elections - Teo

KUALA LUMPUR - The Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD) through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will increase monitoring of fake news and hate speech on social media, especially in the run-up to the upcoming state elections, said its deputy minister Teo Nie Ching.

She said the government, through a special committee, has been working with various organisations, including PDRM and social media platform providers since December to deal with irresponsible statements.

"We understand with the state elections nearing, there will be a lot of fake news that will spread. Accordingly, MCMC and PDRM will work closely to monitor hate speech on social media to ensure action can be taken," she said.

She said this after attending the Unity Government National Women's Convention in conjunction with the Unity Government's National Convention at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre today.

As such, Teo hoped that social media users act wisely by fact-checking information before trusting and sharing information received through the fact-checking platforms www.sebenarnya.my and www.mycheck.my.

In the meantime, Teo said KKD will ensure that the work of all media practitioners in the upcoming state elections run smoothly and easily through the media centres that will be established by the Information Department later.

"The Information Department will make sure that in the six states (that will be having state elections) there are media centres set up for members of the media while if there are media practitioners from abroad they can apply for an official media pass from the Information Department," she said. - BERNAMA