Online Safety Bill 2024 Passed by Dewan Rakyat to Enhance and Promote Online Safety in Malaysia
Bill Passed with Overwhelming Majority
Kuala Lumpur: The Dewan Rakyat has passed the Online Safety Bill 2024, aimed at enhancing and promoting online safety in Malaysia. The bill was passed after a division was called and 77 MPs voted in favour, 55 against, and 90 absent.
Minister’s Winding-Up Speech
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said highlighted the importance of the legislation in her winding-up speech. She emphasized that the law would focus on service providers involved in the licensing process scheduled for January next year. She also stressed that the law was necessary due to the rapid advancements in telecommunications technology and the increasingly challenging and hazardous online environment, given that nearly 80 per cent of Malaysians use social media platforms.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The bill seeks to provide for the duty of a licensed applications service provider and licensed content applications service provider to implement measures to mitigate the risk of users being exposed to harmful content. It also provides for the duty to issue guidelines to users which includes terms of use as a guide to users when using their services. Furthermore, it seeks to provide for the duty of a licensed applications service provider and content applications service provider to make available on their services a mechanism that enables users to make a report to them regarding any content that the users believe is harmful content available on their services.
Objectives of the Bill
The bill aims to address the growing concern over online safety in Malaysia. With millions of users and billions of ringgit at stake, the bill seeks to ensure that service providers take responsibility for the content they host. Minister Azalina Othman Said emphasized that "with millions of users and billions of ringgit at stake, these service providers can’t just operate for profit…when they enter our territory, they must take responsibility".
Conclusion
The passage of the Online Safety Bill 2024 is a significant step towards promoting online safety in Malaysia. The bill is expected to come into effect in January next year, and service providers will be required to implement measures to mitigate the risk of users being exposed to harmful content. The bill is seen as a positive step towards creating a safer online environment for Malaysians.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the Online Safety Bill 2024?
- The bill aims to enhance and promote online safety in Malaysia by regulating service providers and ensuring they take responsibility for the content they host.
- Who is affected by the bill?
- The bill affects service providers, including social media platforms, online content providers, and other online service providers.
- What are the key provisions of the bill?
- The bill requires service providers to implement measures to mitigate the risk of users being exposed to harmful content, issue guidelines to users, and provide a mechanism for users to report harmful content.