Latest news with #ZurkarnainMohdYasin
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
MCMC: MPD speeds up digital transformation of national stats, no personal data breach
MCMC has stated that MPD is a global initiative supported by the United Nations (UN), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and World Bank and adopted by over 50 countries. – Bernama photo CYBERJAYA (June 9): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) today emphasised that the collection of Mobile Phone Data (MPD) from mobile network operators is to enhance national policy planning and development by utilising anonymised mobile data, without involving any personal information. MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin said MPD is a global initiative supported by the United Nations (UN), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and World Bank and adopted by over 50 countries. 'This initiative supports digital transformation in statistics collection methods. With mobile phone coverage exceeding 148 per cent, we can generate faster, more accurate, and comprehensive data compared to conventional survey methods, which may take years,' he said at a media briefing on MPD, here today. Zurkarnain said the usage of MPD, which has raised concerns among users, allows for more efficient and precise development-related planning and policy interventions. He explained that this is because MPD enhances efficiency in the collection of data and statistics, while also addressing several limitations inherent in traditional survey methods. 'For example, population studies are usually conducted via national census, which is only held once every 10 years. In fact, detailed surveys often require face-to-face interviews with respondents, which are time-consuming and costly. 'With MPD, some of the required information is already available without having to ask respondents directly in survey questions. This makes the data collection process more efficient and faster,' he said. From the respondent's perspective, he said MPD enables policies to be formulated more efficiently, while also saving respondents' time, as they may now only need to answer 10 questions instead of 30 previously. On the issue of privacy, Zurkarnain reiterated that all MPD data is anonymous and does not include the users' names, identification card numbers, addresses, or locations. 'The data only refers to the location of the transmission towers, not the users' actual location,' he stressed. He added that MCMC does not receive any raw data. All data has already been anonymised by the service providers and does not violate the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA). Zurkarnain said the data collection was to support an initiative led by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) which is currently in its pilot phase. It will be expanded once all data security and governance aspects are firmly in place. 'Public consultation will be held once the pilot phase has been concluded. The goal of MPD is to produce statistical data, not to track individuals. This marks a major shift in national data collection that should be supported,' he said.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
MCMC says anonymised mobile phone data not classified as 'personal data'
CYBERJAYA: Anonymised mobile phone data (MPD) collected by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is not classified as personal data. MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin said this is because the data they received from mobile network operators (MNO) cannot be used to identify or trace individuals. He said the eight data sets collected by MNO only include an anonymised identifier set by the operators, date and time of the transaction by transmitters, location of the transmission tower connected to the devices, type of network and country identifier. Zurkarnain gave his assurance that they were in full compliance of Malaysian laws and international standards. On Friday, MCMC clarified that its collection of mobile phone data from mobile network operators does not involve the access , processing or disclosure of any personally identifiable information. MCMC said the mobile phone data will be used strictly to generate official statistics to support evidence-based policymaking in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and the tourism sector. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, on Sunday, said MCMC is not seeking any personal data of users from telecommunications companies. He said MCMC's recent request to telcos was for anonymised data to support evidence-based policymaking, including for network infrastructure improvements.
Independent Singapore
19-05-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
'Human judgment remains crucial' — Experts explain why AI still can't replace humans in today's workforce
MALAYSIA: Bernama reported that while artificial intelligence (AI) can take over repetitive tasks, experts say it still cannot replace humans in the workforce. Jaclyn Sim, senior manager of technical training at the BlackBerry Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, explained that AI lacks creative and analytical abilities that are unique to humans. 'Think of AI as another human that can work 24/7,' Ms Sim said, a panellist at the forum titled 'The Future of Connectivity: Advancing Digital Inclusion Through Transformative Technologies' in conjunction with the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2025. The forum was organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). 'We want AI to help us with repetitive tasks, the things we do every day that are the same. We as humans want to do something more creative, more analytical,' she added. Ms Sim stressed that 'human judgment remains crucial.' She explained that while AI can generate content quickly, AI-generated content could easily be inappropriate or misleading without human oversight. She also highlighted the risks of AI technologies, which have led to a greater need for cybersecurity professionals. She explained that AI gives everyone access to all kinds of information, both good and bad. This makes cybersecurity more important than ever to ensure information is 'not polluted'. Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin, deputy managing director of MCMC and fellow panellist, echoed Ms Sim's points, emphasising that 'AI is just a product'. He noted that while it efficiently assembles information, it cannot innovate, unlike humans. He said, 'This is why we need more innovators in cybersecurity, because threat actors are constantly evolving.' Mr Zurkarnain added that new skill sets and high-level thinking are needed now , as AI needs to be prompted correctly . He pointed to recent errors of an AI-generated version of Malaysia's Jalur Gemilang flag, stressing that human oversight is necessary to ensure AI delivers accurate and appropriate outputs. 'It's not only about cybersecurity but also about verifying the output that AI delivers,' he said. /TISG See also What is all the fuss about 5G? Read also: Netizens 'not convinced' AI can replace doctors and teachers after Bill Gates claims it's possible within the next 10 years
