Latest news with #PersonalDataProtectionAct2010
Daily Express
7 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Telcos reassure customer privacy in MCMC data initiative
Published on: Sunday, June 08, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 08, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. KUALA LUMPUR: Telecommunication companies (telcos) have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting customer data and privacy, following the use of mobile phone data (MPD) for official statistical purposes by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). U Mobile Sdn Bhd affirmed in a statement today that customer data and privacy are its top priority, with policies and processes in place to ensure any shared data is anonymised, aggregated and fully compliant with applicable data protection laws and regulations. Advertisement 'We are aware of the objectives of the initiative and are committed to working with MCMC in a manner that upholds the highest standards of data governance,' it said. It noted that when the company does share the MPD, at no point will personally identifiable information be shared or processed. U Mobile remains committed to safeguarding customer privacy and ensuring full regulatory compliance in all aspects of data management, it added. Meanwhile, Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) also clarified that the MPD submitted to MCMC is fully anonymised and does not contain any personally identifiable information. Advertisement Data submission is carried out under strict governance and security protocols, with full compliance to applicable company policies as well as national laws and regulatory requirements, it said in a statement. 'TM remains fully committed to safeguarding the safety and privacy of customer data with responsibility and integrity,' it noted. CelcomDigi Bhd said in a statement that it continues to work intently with MCMC to support the government's initiatives without compromising the integrity of customer data. 'When required, CelcomDigi will process requested data within our own secure environments and provide a limited sample on relevant fields comprising anonymised and aggregated output to the commission,' it said. YTL Communications Sdn Bhd also confirms compliance with MCMC's directive to submit mobile network usage records for the first quarter of 2025, in support of the government's recently approved mandate to use MPD for national statistics. 'In fulfilling this obligation, YTL Communications has taken rigorous steps to anonymise all data prior to submission. No personally identifiable information has been shared, and customer privacy remains our highest priority,' it noted in a statement. Maxis Bhd said that for this initiative, as requested by MCMC, there is no access to, processing of, or sharing of personally identifiable information at any stage, as the company places the priority on data privacy and security. 'All data is anonymised by Maxis and processed in an aggregated manner within a secure environment, in full compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA),' it said in a statement. On June 6, MCMC clarified that its collection of MPD from mobile network operators (MNOs) does not involve the access, processing or disclosure of any personally identifiable information. MCMC said MPD was used strictly for the generation of official statistics to support evidence-based policymaking in two key domains, namely the information and communications technology sector and the tourism sector. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
8 hours ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Telcos reassure customer privacy in MCMC data initiative
File photo for illustration purposes KUALA LUMPUR (June 8): Telecommunication companies (telcos) have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting customer data and privacy, following the use of mobile phone data (MPD) for official statistical purposes by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). U Mobile Sdn Bhd affirmed in a statement today that customer data and privacy are its top priority, with policies and processes in place to ensure any shared data is anonymised, aggregated and fully compliant with applicable data protection laws and regulations. 'We are aware of the objectives of the initiative and are committed to working with MCMC in a manner that upholds the highest standards of data governance,' it said. It noted that when the company does share the MPD, at no point will personally identifiable information be shared or processed. U Mobile remains committed to safeguarding customer privacy and ensuring full regulatory compliance in all aspects of data management, it added. Meanwhile, Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) also clarified that the MPD submitted to MCMC is fully anonymised and does not contain any personally identifiable information. Data submission is carried out under strict governance and security protocols, with full compliance to applicable company policies as well as national laws and regulatory requirements, it said in a statement. 'TM remains fully committed to safeguarding the safety and privacy of customer data with responsibility and integrity,' it noted. CelcomDigi Bhd said in a statement that it continues to work intently with MCMC to support the government's initiatives without compromising the integrity of customer data. 'When required, CelcomDigi will process requested data within our own secure environments and provide a limited sample on relevant fields comprising anonymised and aggregated output to the commission,' it said. YTL Communications Sdn Bhd also confirms compliance with MCMC's directive to submit mobile network usage records for the first quarter of 2025, in support of the government's recently approved mandate to use MPD for national statistics. 'In fulfilling this obligation, YTL Communications has taken rigorous steps to anonymise all data prior to submission. No personally identifiable information has been shared, and customer privacy remains our highest priority,' it noted in a statement. Maxis Bhd said that for this initiative, as requested by MCMC, there is no access to, processing of, or sharing of personally identifiable information at any stage, as the company places the priority on data privacy and security. 'All data is anonymised by Maxis and processed in an aggregated manner within a secure environment, in full compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA),' it said in a statement. On June 6, MCMC clarified that its collection of MPD from mobile network operators (MNOs) does not involve the access, processing or disclosure of any personally identifiable information. MCMC said MPD was used strictly for the generation of official statistics to support evidence-based policymaking in two key domains, namely the information and communications technology sector and the tourism sector. – Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Freedom without privacy is no freedom at all
From Mahathir Rais A culture that glorifies invading privacy is not progress. It is decay masquerading as vigilance. Social media was created to connect us, yet it has bred a culture where people's personal data, private income, private lives, and even personal choices are treated as public property. Today, we face the real consequences of this shift. It is no longer rare to see personal information leaked, reputations destroyed overnight, and baseless allegations spread faster than truth can catch up. In the race for attention and influence, the basic human right to privacy has often become the first casualty. Privacy is not a privilege. It is the foundation of dignity, freedom, and peace of mind. Without it, we invite fear into our daily lives, fear that anything we say, do, or even think can be weaponised against us. Liberty is hollow without the protection of privacy. In a digital world, safeguarding privacy is not a secondary concern. It is essential for our safety, our stability, and the public's trust in the nation. Recent incidents have shown how fragile these protections have become. Some social media figures, driven by the pursuit of followers and fame, have weaponised private information, dragging even national institutions into controversy. Content that provokes racial, religious, or royal tensions is not free speech. It is a threat to the foundations of our society. No individual, no matter how influential, has the right to position themselves as judge and executioner in the court of public opinion. No citizen is entitled to reveal another person's private life as a tool of intimidation. The law must be the line that holds, even when social media storms rage. The reckless exposure of private lives does more than harm individuals. It erodes social trust, damages Malaysia's reputation globally, and weakens investor and public confidence. True national stability depends as much on respecting individual rights as it does on political governance. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has made commendable efforts to act when abuses occur. But enforcement alone is not enough. Malaysia's existing Personal Data Protection Act 2010 mainly regulates how businesses handle personal information. However, it does not fully protect individuals when private data is exposed, leaked, or abused between citizens, especially on social media. What we truly need is a full Privacy Act that criminalises the misuse of private information by any party. Privacy protection must go beyond businesses. It must defend every individual's right to live without fear of being violated or harassed in a digital world. We urgently need a dedicated Privacy Act that makes it unmistakably clear: violations of personal privacy are serious crimes, and perpetrators will face real and serious consequences. Those who irresponsibly incite issues involving race, religion, and royalty, or who misuse private information to harass, intimidate, or damage reputations must be held accountable. Stronger enforcement is not about restricting freedom of speech. It is about defending society against the toxic effects of slander, harassment, and misinformation. Nations that value their people, from Europe to parts of the US, have already moved forward with strong privacy protections. They understand that safeguarding personal dignity strengthens democracy. We must not fall behind. Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil has proven his dedication to strengthening digital responsibility. Now, that spirit must be translated into a firm legal framework that closes gaps, removes ambiguity, and protects citizens from digital harm. Freedom without responsibility is not freedom. Openness without respect is not progress. A mature democracy is one where speech is free, but boundaries that protect dignity and truth are firmly upheld. Protecting privacy is not about silencing voices. It is about ensuring that no one lives in fear of being dragged into public humiliation or harm. Freedom must walk hand in hand with responsibility. Malaysia must act now. If we move decisively, we can build a safer, healthier digital culture, where dignity is preserved, trust is strengthened, and freedom remains meaningful. Because when we protect privacy, we are not just defending individuals. We are defending the future of a society worth believing in. Mahathir Rais is the former secretary of Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional's federal territories chapters. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
