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New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Of tech titans and online harm
OF late, many governments are recognising that technology needs to be rooted in ethics; otherwise it won't be a force for good. But tech titans want technology to be left alone. To them, their platforms are content enablers: anyone can write anything they want. Pushed to the limit, this would mean unethical content such as fake news and hate speech. This is not something that might happen; it has been happening for the longest time. Left with no choice, some governments are turning to the law to tame technology. Take the European Union's Digital Services Act and allied legislation. They are based on a very simple concept: social media platforms, being content curators, must take responsibility for everything they publish. Can't blame the EU; self-policing isn't one of the strong points of social media platforms. With the oversight of the platforms being taken over by the EU, many analysts expect the digital world to change for the better. Malaysia, too, wants the digital world to be more ethical than it is now, but it is trying a milder version by inviting social media platforms to join the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF), an industry-led effort to ensure that more ethical content appears online. Mild though the CMCF is, Meta, X and Instagram have refused to be part of it, despite several invitations. They are missing a golden opportunity to join others in the technology business to set best practices for the industry. Because the CMCF provides the technology companies a second chance at self-policing, so to speak. Having scored badly before, they should grab the opportunity to do better now. Refusing to be part of the CMCF means the tech titans are not keen on moderating harmful content online. But they must know their algorithms make harm worse. This is why nations around the world are resorting to a regulatory framework to compel them to curate their content. Otherwise, the companies and their officers will suffer punitive costs. As if algorithms aren't bad enough, artificial intelligence-powered scams are making digital platforms a more harmful world. A 2025 Jumio Online Identity Study published recently and reported in this newspaper yesterday is clear: AI fraud is eroding digital trust. Technology titans must also read it as people losing trust in them. Of the 8,000 adults surveyed in the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico and Singapore, only 37 per cent believe most social media accounts are authentic, and just 36 per cent say they still trust the online news they consume. Here is more: some 76 per cent fear the use of AI to create fake identity documents and 75 per cent are concerned about scam emails crafted by AI to steal passwords or money. For technology titans whose social media platforms have become the new media outlets, this is surely bad news. Views may earn them 90 per cent of their revenue from advertisements, but at this level of trust and fear, in no time the bear will be at the door. There is only one of two ways for the technology titans to preserve trust: to self-police their platforms or join others in crafting best practices for the industry.
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Fahmi calls out Meta and X over their inaction on online safety
He highlighted TikTok as the only platform that has demonstrated a genuine commitment by voluntarily joining the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil speaks at a press conference following the Launch of the Ethical Guidelines for Reporting and Sharing Suicide-Related Content at Menara Star today. Photo by Bernama PETALING JAYA – Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has urged social media giants to play a more active role in curbing online harm, calling out Meta and X for failing to adequately address issues such as cyberbullying and suicide prevention. He highlighted TikTok as the only platform that has demonstrated a genuine commitment by voluntarily joining the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF). Speaking at the launch of CMCF's guidelines on reporting and sharing suicide-related content, Fahmi criticised social media platforms that neglect their responsibility to mitigate online harm, including suicide-related issues. "We cannot have these social media platforms washing their hands of content that could also create online harm, particularly related to suicide," he said. He noted that despite outreach efforts by CMCF to involve major players like Meta and X, these companies have not engaged with the forum. In contrast, TikTok proactively joined the CMCF even before the implementation of the government's licensing framework for social media and online messaging services. Fahmi singled out Facebook, urging the platform to recognise that the CMCF is an industry-led initiative, not a government directive, and that participation would benefit them by fostering best practices and codes of conduct. "I wholeheartedly applaud TikTok's approach in voluntarily becoming a member of the Content Forum. For example, Facebook said that they are going to be licensed, but they must understand that the Content Forum is not government-led. "It's industry-led. It's actually in their interest to participate so they can help develop best practices and codes of conduct," he added. The minister also pointed out the alarming financial toll of online scams, which cost Malaysians RM53.88 billion in 2024, equivalent to three per cent of the nation's GDP. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil (second from left) speaks at a press conference after the Launch Ceremony of the Ethical Guidelines for Reporting and Sharing Suicide-Related Content at Menara Star today. Also present was the Chairman of the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia, Rafiq Razali (left). Photo for Bernama Fahmi urged vernacular media outlets to play an active role in suicide prevention efforts by providing mental health resources in multiple languages to ensure broad accessibility. "We need to reach out to the vernacular press. A lot of the content is in English, but our efforts must be understood in all languages," he stated. Journalists were also encouraged to follow the CMCF's guidelines when covering suicide-related stories, focusing on safeguarding the privacy of victims and their families while avoiding detailed reporting that could lead to imitative behaviour. 'Reporting about suicide is most sensitive and most harrowing for any journalist covering the tragedy. We should not divulge the location or the personality in such tragedies,' he added. Fahmi emphasised that the guidelines offer comprehensive advice for the digital ecosystem, including sharing personal experiences responsibly, avoiding trauma-triggering content, and connecting people to support services. More Like This
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Social media giants must tackle online harms, be held accountable
Fahmi took aim at Facebook, which earned RM2.5 billion in advertising revenue in Malaysia in 2023, for failing to curb scam ads and online gambling promotions. Fahmi pointed out that companies earning billions in advertising revenue must take responsibility for the content published and shared on their platforms. - Bernama photo PETALING JAYA – Social media platforms must do more to tackle online harms and be held accountable, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Speaking at the launch of the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia's (CMCF) guidelines on reporting and sharing suicide-related content, Fahmi called on digital platforms to join the CMCF to support ethical content practices and help curb the rising tide of online toxicity. Fahmi said while Malaysia has the legal framework in place, enforcement and platform cooperation remain lacking. - Bernama photo He pointed out that companies earning billions in advertising revenue must take responsibility for the content published and shared on their platforms. 'TikTok has joined the Content Forum and we are grateful for that. But many other platforms are still not on board — especially X,' he said, referring to the platform formerly known as Twitter. Fahmi said while Malaysia has the legal framework in place, enforcement and platform cooperation remain lacking. 'The laws are mostly there. We also have the Online Safety Act coming into effect soon. But are platforms doing enough? I don't think so,' he said. He described X as one of the worst offenders. 'X really puts the 'X' in toxic. It's an extremely toxic environment,' he added. He also criticised Facebook for failing to control scam ads and deepfake content, noting that the platform has become a hotbed for fraudulent schemes that often go unchecked and prey on unsuspecting users. 'For a long time, we didn't look at scams as a form of cyberbullying. But scams, whether AI-generated deepfakes or identity theft used to promote fake products have a serious impact on mental health,' he said. Fahmi also took aim at Facebook, which earned RM2.5 billion in advertising revenue in Malaysia in 2023, for failing to curb scam ads and online gambling promotions. He said that resistance from tech platforms to cooperate with regulators is not just a Malaysian issue but one that affects the entire Asia-Pacific and Asean regions. 'Many of these platforms act as if they're above national laws. This isn't just about regulation. It's about their mindset. 'When it comes to profit, they move quickly. But when it's about following the law, they drag their feet,' he said. More Like This
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
Ethical reporting in suicide cases
Useful handbook: Fahmi (third from left) holding a copy of the Suicide Content Guidelines at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya. With him are (from left) MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin, Mediha, Rafiq, Dr Ismuni and Wong. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star Mainstream and social media urged to observe the dos and don'ts PETALING JAYA: Ethical content reporting on suicide cases should be a collective effort by media organisations, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said that with the launching of the Suicide Content Guidelines, he was hopeful that they could be implemented and practised by all parties. 'For us to make a structural change, especially in the culture of reporting, the entire organisation needs to understand the importance of respecting the principles that have been established in these guidelines,' he told reporters after launching the document at Menara Star here yesterday. Following the launch, he called for the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF), which had spearheaded the drafting of the guidelines, to engage with as many media organisations as possible to ensure the essence of the document could be adopted. The guidelines, he said, are not only applicable to mainstream media but also social media platforms. 'We cannot have these social media platforms washing their hands of content that could create online harm, particularly related to suicide,' he said. Fahmi said he had requested the Content Forum to ensure the participation of social media platforms in its initiatives. He pointed out that only TikTok is a member of CMCF, urging other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X to follow suit. 'TikTok took an early step even before we introduced the social media licensing regime and I wholeheartedly applaud its approach to voluntarily be a member of CMCF,' he said. CMCF chief executive officer Mediha Mahmood said the drafting of the guidelines was inspired by the Health Ministry's very own version. She noted that the ministry's guidelines were released in 2011. But with various changes since then, she said there was a need to have an updated version of the guidelines. She explained that many things had changed since 2011. 'Even the media landscape has changed, so we decided that we needed to have an updated version. 'We worked together with the Health Ministry and other stakeholders to have guidelines that's not just for media reporting but also for every form of content sharing,' she said. Mediha said the guidelines were also meant for content creators, social media influencers and filmmakers. The establishment of the Malaysian Media Council would further complement the implementation of the guidelines, she said. The council will comprise members who are knowledgeable on content-related matters. 'We can have these guidelines as a standard for all media organisations and if they have improvements that they think we should make to these guidelines, we can update it at any time,' she added. CMCF chairman Rafiq Rizal said the guidelines aim to create a framework that protects the vulnerable, empowers the informed and supports a healthier and more compassionate national discourse. 'In an era when headlines compete for attention and social media posts go viral in seconds, it is essential that our content practices are guided by intention and empathy,' he said. For instance, Rafiq said discussion on suicide matters should be done with care and intention. Among the objectives of the guidelines include preventing imitative suicides, promoting help-seeking behaviour, enhancing public awareness and education, as well as supporting media professionals and social media users. Also present at the launch were Star Media Group chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng, Star Media Group group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt and Health Ministry deputy director-general (public health) Dr Ismuni Bohari.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Fahmi launches guidelines for reporting suicide-related content
PETALING JAYA: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today launched the Guidelines for Reporting and Sharing of Suicide-Related Content, the first such initiative in the world developed through an industry-led, inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach. Fahmi said the proactive efforts by the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) in developing these guidelines had brought together the Ministry of Health, media professionals and individuals with lived experiences, before further strengthening them through public consultations. 'In fact, Malaysia has been invited to present this initiative at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) World Congress 2025 in Vienna (Austria) this month, with CMCF representing our country,' he said in his speech at the guideline launching ceremony at Menara Star here today. Also present were CMCF chairman Rafiq Razali, Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (Telecommunications Infrastructure) Mano Verabathran, Ministry of Health deputy director-general (Public Health) Dr Ismuni Bohari, and Star Media Group (SMG) chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng. Fahmi said the Communications Ministry, together with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), will continue to support such efforts to ensure that the content ecosystem in Malaysia remains safe, inclusive and supportive of public wellbeing. 'I would also like to call upon all industry players, whether media practitioners, content creators, influencers or everyday users, to refer to and adopt these guidelines in their daily content creation and sharing,' he said. He said reporting about suicide is among the most sensitive and harrowing topics any journalist will face and it is essential to be responsible and discreet, ensuring that they do not divulge too many details and the location of the tragic event. 'This is primarily because of the consideration and compassion we must show to the family of the deceased. There is also the phenomenon of copycat suicides, where others learn about the tragedy and attempt to emulate it. For these two reasons alone, we must never treat suicide reporting and sharing lightly,' he said. Meanwhile, during a press conference, Fahmi hailed TikTok for voluntarily becoming a member of the Content Forum. 'Facebook, Instagram and X (are) far from satisfactory, so I will also communicate with them but they must understand that the Content Forum is not government-led, it is industry-led. 'It is actually in their interest that they participate so that they can help to develop certain (guidelines) whether best practices, (or) code of conduct. These I think is in their own interest, they should participate,' he said. Meanwhile, Fahmi hopes that the guidelines will be practised by all parties, not just journalists but those who report from the field and even within the entire media organisational structure. 'For us to do this, there needs to be a structural change, particularly in the culture of reporting, the whole organisation needs to understand and we must respect certain principles that are stressed in the guidelines. 'I ask that the Content Forum carry out several matters. Firstly, to involve as many media organisations from the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak as possible in workshop sessions so that all parties can understand the gist of the guidelines that have been launched. 'Secondly, we need to involve not just the mainstream media but also social media platforms because platforms like TikTok, Facebook and others, must understand that action needs to be taken on any issue that leads to what we might not call reporting, news reports but is displayed, showcased on their platforms,' he said. Asked if the existing act is sufficient to regulate social media platforms, he said it was not just a legal issue but the attitude of platform operators who prioritised profit. 'I just returned from a meeting of communication ministers in the Asia Pacific region, (and) we found that generally many countries in this region faced social media-related problems,' he said.
