Latest news with #MedihaMahmood
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Content Forum becomes first Malaysian partner in Google's flagger programme
KUALA LUMPUR: Google has partnered with the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (Content Forum) to strengthen online safety through its global Priority Flagger programme. The move makes the Content Forum the first Malaysian organisation to join the initiative, which allows select partners to identify and report harmful content directly to Google and YouTube via dedicated review channels. Operating under the purview of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the Content Forum will now assist in flagging content that potentially violates platform policies, with consideration for local cultural contexts. Google Malaysia country director Farhan Qureshi said the collaboration reflects the importance of tapping into local knowledge to create a safer digital environment. "By working with organisations like the Content Forum, we are adding a crucial layer of local expertise, which deepens our ability to respond to harmful content with relevance and precision," he said. The Priority Flagger programme enables trusted local agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to alert Google about problematic material across platforms such as Search, Maps, Play, Gmail, and YouTube. These reports receive priority review due to the flaggers' industry expertise. As a Priority Flagger, Content Forum will also participate in policy discussions and feedback sessions with Google, helping shape platform governance. Content Forum chief executive officer Mediha Mahmood said the onboarding marked a meaningful advancement in the country's approach to content regulation. "It allows us to move beyond dialogue into action, ensuring that harmful content is flagged and reviewed with the urgency it deserves. "This collaboration reflects our continued role in setting industry standards, empowering communities, and contributing to a safer digital ecosystem through collective responsibility." Content Forum is a self-regulatory industry body designated under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. It represents stakeholders ranging from broadcasters and advertisers to content creators, internet service providers, and civic groups.
Barnama
18-06-2025
- Health
- Barnama
Malaysia's Guidelines For Reporting, Sharing Suicide-Related Content Well Received Globally
KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's guidelines for reporting and sharing suicide-related content have received positive feedback both domestically and internationally, including after they were presented at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) 2025 World Congress in Vienna recently. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) chief executive officer Mediha Mahmood said the collaborative approach between doctors, psychiatrists and media practitioners in developing the guidelines attracted the attention of the international community. 'The external response has also been very encouraging. They are impressed with how we can collaborate between doctors, psychiatrists and the media because the whole world has issues about getting media cooperation,' she said on Bernama Radio's Jendela Fikir programme today. At the local level, she said, CMCF has received many requests to hold workshops and training within just a week after the guidelines were launched on June 3. 'When we hold workshops or training with interactive dialogue, they can see the case studies we present to understand how we can bring these guidelines to life in daily work. 'CMCF not only conducts training with media practitioners but also with influencers and content creators to build understanding among all,' she said. Regarding implementation and enforcement, Mediha said CMCF emphasises more on educating and guiding the community, but action can be taken if there are repeated violations. 'Anyone who sees content that violates these guidelines can file a complaint, and the complaints bureau will see if it is wrong or not. 'We will usually give advice, but if the case is repeated and gets worse over time, there is a compound of up to RM50,000, but compound action is rarely taken because we want our community to know for themselves what is good and not,' she said.
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Malaysia's guidelines for reporting, sharing suicide-related content
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's guidelines for reporting and sharing suicide-related content have received positive feedback both domestically and internationally, including after they were presented at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) 2025 World Congress in Vienna recently. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) chief executive officer Mediha Mahmood said the collaborative approach between doctors, psychiatrists and media practitioners in developing the guidelines attracted the attention of the international community. 'The external response has also been very encouraging. They are impressed with how we can collaborate between doctors, psychiatrists and the media because the whole world has issues about getting media cooperation,' she said on Bernama Radio's Jendela Fikir programme today. At the local level, she said, CMCF has received many requests to hold workshops and training within just a week after the guidelines were launched on June 3. 'When we hold workshops or training with interactive dialogue, they can see the case studies we present to understand how we can bring these guidelines to life in daily work. 'CMCF not only conducts training with media practitioners but also with influencers and content creators to build understanding among all,' she said. Regarding implementation and enforcement, Mediha said CMCF emphasises more on educating and guiding the community, but action can be taken if there are repeated violations. 'Anyone who sees content that violates these guidelines can file a complaint, and the complaints bureau will see if it is wrong or not. 'We will usually give advice, but if the case is repeated and gets worse over time, there is a compound of up to RM50,000, but compound action is rarely taken because we want our community to know for themselves what is good and not,' she said. According to Mediha, CMCF also conducts engagement with schools and communities to encourage references to authentic content and build a culture of ethical content dissemination She said CMCF is currently discussing with the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) to introduce a new term that is more suitable to replace the use of the phrase 'bunuh diri' in the Malay language. 'The word in English is 'suicide', but in the Malay language, there is no word that can replace suicide yet,' she said. The guidelines, launched by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, are the first of their kind in the world, developed inclusively with various parties, including the Ministry of Health, media practitioners and individuals with real-life experience, and supported through a public consultation process.
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Malaysia's guidelines for reporting, sharing suicide-related content well received globally
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's guidelines for reporting and sharing suicide-related content have received positive feedback both domestically and internationally, including after they were presented at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) 2025 World Congress in Vienna recently. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) chief executive officer Mediha Mahmood said the collaborative approach between doctors, psychiatrists and media practitioners in developing the guidelines attracted the attention of the international community. 'The external response has also been very encouraging. They are impressed with how we can collaborate between doctors, psychiatrists and the media because the whole world has issues about getting media cooperation,' she said on Bernama Radio's Jendela Fikir programme today. At the local level, she said, CMCF has received many requests to hold workshops and training within just a week after the guidelines were launched on June 3. 'When we hold workshops or training with interactive dialogue, they can see the case studies we present to understand how we can bring these guidelines to life in daily work. 'CMCF not only conducts training with media practitioners but also with influencers and content creators to build understanding among all,' she said. Regarding implementation and enforcement, Mediha said CMCF emphasises more on educating and guiding the community, but action can be taken if there are repeated violations. 'Anyone who sees content that violates these guidelines can file a complaint, and the complaints bureau will see if it is wrong or not. 'We will usually give advice, but if the case is repeated and gets worse over time, there is a compound of up to RM50,000, but compound action is rarely taken because we want our community to know for themselves what is good and not,' she said. According to Mediha, CMCF also conducts engagement with schools and communities to encourage references to authentic content and build a culture of ethical content dissemination She said CMCF is currently discussing with the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) to introduce a new term that is more suitable to replace the use of the phrase 'bunuh diri' in the Malay language. 'The word in English is 'suicide', but in the Malay language, there is no word that can replace suicide yet,' she said. The guidelines, launched by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, are the first of their kind in the world, developed inclusively with various parties, including the Ministry of Health, media practitioners and individuals with real-life experience, and supported through a public consultation process.
New Straits Times
03-06-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
New suicide content guidelines now apply to everyone — not just the media
PETALING JAYA: The newly launched Guidelines for Reporting and Sharing of Suicide-Related Content are not limited to traditional newsrooms but extend to all forms of media — including influencers, content creators, and everyday users. Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF) chief operating officer Mediha Mahmood expressed hope that awareness and advocacy surrounding the guidelines would reach far beyond the forum's immediate members. "The best form of advocacy is education. Many assume that compliance comes from punishment or enforcement, but I believe it's far more effective to get people genuinely invested in the guidelines — and that starts with understanding them," she told reporters at the sidelines of the launch event. "At CMCF, we see our role as one of collaboration. We want to help people understand why these guidelines exist, so they'll follow them out of conscience, not compulsion." Mediha said that CMCF aims to expand its outreach efforts to include podcasters, recognising the growing influence of such platforms. "Our immediate priority is to engage our members — mainly broadcasters and content creators — but we also hope to extend our workshops to podcasters and other emerging voices," she said. The guidelines were launched by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and were developed through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process involving the Communications Ministry, Health Ministry, the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH), health professionals, media practitioners, civil society, technology platforms, and individuals with lived experience of suicidal ideation or attempts. Mediha said that the initiative was inspired by the Health Ministry's 2011 Guidelines for Media Reporting on Suicide, but acknowledged that evolving media landscapes necessitated an updated framework. "So much has changed since 2011 — even the way we consume media. Working together with the Health Ministry and NCEMH, we've created a new set of guidelines that cover not just news reporting, but all forms of content sharing," she said. "Whether you're a content creator, influencer, filmmaker, or someone giving an interview, these guidelines offer useful direction. We will also be collaborating with the Health Ministry to support dissemination and provide training." Mediha also welcomed the eventual establishment of the Malaysian Media Council, saying it would complement and reinforce the guidelines. "Our hope is that these guidelines can be standardised across all media platforms. And the beauty of it is — they're adaptable. If there are improvements to be made, they can be updated as needed. We're looking forward to working with the Malaysian Media Council to support this." The framework outlines a clear roadmap for ethical reporting and content sharing, covering areas such as responsible language use, the avoidance of graphic imagery and sensational headlines, and the inclusion of mental health support resources. It also emphasises the importance of the "Papageno Effect" — the protective influence of media stories that highlight hope, recovery, coping strategies, and help-seeking behaviour as tools to reduce suicidal ideation. Importantly, the guidelines go beyond traditional media and address the broader digital ecosystem. They offer practical advice on sharing lived experiences safely, avoiding potentially triggering content, and directing audiences to relevant support services. Malaysia's leadership in this area has also gained international recognition. The guidelines have been selected for presentation at the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) World Congress 2025, set to be held in Vienna.
