New Online Safety Committee to advise MCMC on harmful content, user protection and platform accountability under Online Safety Act 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will establish an Online Safety Committee as the highest monitoring body to address digital safety issues.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said confirmed Section 5 of the Online Safety Act 2025 provides for the committee’s formation.
Azalina will chair the first protem meeting soon to set strategic priorities and coordinate implementation direction.
The committee will advise MCMC on identifying harmful content and prioritising such material under Section 10 of the Act.
It will also determine methods for analysing and mitigating risks to users exposed to harmful content.
Additional responsibilities include conducting research on harmful content and promoting best practices for service provider accountability.
Azalina highlighted the committee’s importance given Malaysia’s 33.1 million active social media users representing 96% of the population.
This includes approximately 10.6 million users aged under 18 who require special protection measures.
The committee will facilitate ongoing cooperation between government and social media platforms like Meta, Google, TikTok and X.
It will ensure safety measures, content moderation and child protection are implemented effectively across platforms.
Although the Communications Minister oversees Act 866, the committee operates as a separate neutral advisory body.
The Act was gazetted on May 22 and will come into force on January 1 next year.
MCMC is currently finalising 10 subsidiary legislations under Section 81 of the Act.
Separately, Azalina confirmed the Criminal Law Reform Committee is reviewing Malaysia’s main criminal law statutes.
This includes the Evidence Act 1950, Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code for comprehensive reforms.
CLRC is also reviewing proposals to criminalise AI misuse including synthetic intimate image creation and digital impersonation.
The proposals will clarify responsibilities for content creators, distributors and those assisting such acts.
CLRC’s mandate balances freedom of speech with protection, cross-border issues and security concerns. – Bernama
