28 April 2017

Freedom of Speech suppressed with crackdown on WhatsApp Group Administrators

The MCA Youth Young Professionals and Varsity Students' Affairs Bureau is perturbed by the proposal of the Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Jailani Johari to penalise administrators of Whatsapp groups over offensive or false news posted in Whatsapp groups.

Whilst the MCA Youth is concerned with the ease of spreading false information or fake news through the social media, we are equally concerned with such proposal to penalise administrators of Whatsapp groups. It is our view that such proposal will put unrealistic, preposterous burden on administrators of Whatsapp groups as even the government is having a hard time to verify the authenticity of information shared on the social media.

The MCA Youth is further of the view that such proposal will threaten freedom of speech, and that there are already sufficient laws against those who spread false information or fake news. In order for the existing laws to be effective in curbing the spread of false information or fake news, the MCA Youth would like to urge the government to work closely with the social media platforms to improve their systems so that it will curtail the spread of false information or fake news.

At the same time, the MCA Youth would like to call for the generous members of public to take necessary steps to verify information or news which are passed on to them prior to sharing or spreading the same. Such is the cornerstone for a responsible society.

Eric Choo Wei Sern
MCA Youth Professionals Bureau Chairman
MCA Youth Varsity Students Affairs Bureau Chairman

-MCA Online-