Govt ready to work with journalists' union on AI guidelines, says Fahmi
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said he is ready to listen to the views of the National Union of Journalists Malaysia, and representatives from the media and NGOs. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : The communications ministry is prepared to meet the National Union of Journalist Malaysia (NUJM) to develop guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in the media industry, said its minister, Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi said clear guidelines and better understanding are essential if the media is to benefit from AI rather than suffer from its misuse, particularly in spreading misinformation and fake news.
'I am ready for an in-depth discussion with NUJM, representatives from media, non-governmental organisations, and journalists' clubs to take in their views.
'I will try to meet NUJM this week,' he told reporters after officiating an event in Lembah Pantai today.
His remarks came after NUJM warned that the growing use of AI in the media brings both opportunities and risks.
'We hope that, with the media council, more guidelines can be issued, and the NUJM is ready to offer its assistance on the matter,' the union was quoted as saying.
The spotlight on AI use in the media intensified after Sin Chew Daily came under fire over an AI-generated illustration of the Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon- a blunder that triggered a police investigation and the detention of two senior editors.
'RSF improvement welcomed, but more needs to be done'
Fahmi welcomed Malaysia's rise in the latest Reporters Without Borders (RSF) press freedom index, moving up to 88th position from 107th last year.
He attributed the improvement to recent initiatives, including the tabling and passage of the Media Council Bill.
Still, he said, the government's priority is not just better rankings but helping the media industry face growing challenges.
'Many challenges, such as employment issues and whether AI will replace the roles of journalists, need to be addressed immediately.
'RSF report gives us an opportunity to reflect and strengthen our efforts to defend the livelihoods of our media practitioners,' he said.
Fahmi also said the government must strike a balance between press freedom and curbing misinformation that could disrupt public order, especially those related to race, religion, and royalty (3Rs).
'Malaysians and the media have the right to speak out and carry out their duties in reporting, but our existing laws still apply,' he said.
The RSF report noted Malaysia's relatively poor scores in legislation (133rd) and political context (92nd), adding that self-censorship around 3R issues remains widespread.
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