Malaysia outlaws 'fake news'; sets jail of up to six years
Malaysia outlaws 'fake news'; sets jail of up to six
years
Commuters walk past an advertisement discouraging the
dissemination of fake news at a train station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March
28, 2018. Picture taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
Reuters April 2, 2018
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia on Monday approved a
law against "fake news" that would allow for prison of up to six
years for offenders, shrugging off critics who say it was aimed at curbing
dissent and free speech ahead of a general election.
Prime Minister Najib Razak's government secured a simple
majority in parliament to pass the Anti-Fake News 2018 bill, which sets out
fines of up to 500,000 ringgit ($123,000) and a maximum six years in jail. The
first draft of the bill had proposed jail of up to 10 years.
The government said the law would not impinge on freedom
of speech and cases under it would be handled through an independent court
process.
"This law aims to protect the public from the spread
of fake news, while allowing freedom of speech as provided for under the
constitution," Law Minister Azalina Othman Said told parliament.
The law defines fake news as “news, information, data and
reports which is or are wholly or partly false” and includes features, visuals
and audio recordings.
It covers digital publications and social media and will
apply to offenders who maliciously spread "fake news" inside and
outside Malaysia, including foreigners, if Malaysia or a Malaysian citizen were
affected.
Co-opted by U.S. President Donald Trump, the term
"fake news" has quickly become part of the standard repertoire of
leaders in authoritarian countries to describe media reports and organizations
critical of them.
The U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and
expression, David Kaye, had earlier on Monday urged the government not to rush
the legislation through parliament.
"I urge the government to reconsider the bill and
open it up to regular and genuine public scrutiny before taking any further
steps," David Kaye said in a Twitter post.
OTHERS CONSIDER LAWS
Other countries in Southeast Asia, including Singapore
and the Philippines, are considering how to tackle "fake news" but
human rights activists fear that laws against it could be used to stifle free
speech.
Malaysia is among the first few countries to introduce a
law against it. Germany approved a plan last year to fine social media networks
if they fail to remove hateful postings.
Malaysia already has an arsenal of laws, including a
colonial-era Sedition Act, that have been used to clamp down on unfavorable
news and social media posts.
News reports and social media posts on a multi-billion
dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) have hounded
Prime Minister Najib, who faces arguably his toughest contest in a general
election this year that could be called in days.
Najib has denied any wrongdoing in connection with losses
at the fund.
A deputy minister was quoted in media last month as
saying any news on 1MDB not verified by the government was "fake".
Lim Kit Siang, a senior opposition lawmaker with the
Democratic Action Party, described the bill as a "Save Najib from 1MDB
Scandal Bill" which would criminalize news on the affair.
(Reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Writing by Praveen Menon;
Editing by Robert Birsel)
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