Malaysia to champion ‘cyber responsibility’ in London

Malaysia will propose a feasible idea in striving for a more responsible use of the Internet at the World Conference
on Cybersecurity Law in London from Nov 1 to 3.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said the proposal is not intended to curtail or filter Internet content, further from censoring information.

“Instead it will brighten the blurred lines between upholding human rights and protecting public interest in line with international laws,” he said when met yesterday.

Rais is accompanying Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for the annual consultations with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

On the conference, he said firstly, it would look at how justified was social networking for education purposes and the enforcement of international laws governing it.

“A new feeling seemed to have surfaced in London and Washington on the need for Internet users to be identified, and they cannot hide behind their websites.

This matter will be discussed at the conference,” he said.

He said secondly, the long arm of the law should extend its reach into cyber crimes, especially fraud, child pornography and gambling while respecting laws on humanitarian rights.

Rais said he might propose the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to be amended to strike a balance between protecting public interest and user responsibility by identifying their core values.

– Bernama