Latest news with #MalaysianCommunicationsandMultimediaCommission


New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Telegram acted on less than half of takedown requests
KUALA LUMPUR: Telegram has the lowest compliance rate among major social media platforms in Malaysia, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said that the platform acted on fewer than half of the takedown requests submitted by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). "Telegram has acted on less than 50 per cent of the takedown requests we submitted. "Among all platforms, they have shown the lowest level of cooperation with the Malaysian government," he said at a press conference after attending the Nadi Aspirasi Nasional Bersama Anak Muda (Nanba) Programme at IWK Eco Park here. He said this days after MCMC filed a civil lawsuit against Telegram and two of its high-profile channels, Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas, over content allegedly published in breach of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. The regulator said the material disseminated on the two channels could undermine trust in public institutions and threaten social order. MCMC described the lawsuit as a landmark move, marking the first time legal action has been taken against a social media platform with a local licence. Telegram is currently registered as an application service provider (class) in Malaysia. "The move follows Telegram's serious failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported to it, despite multiple negotiation and cooperation efforts by MCMC," the commission said in a statement. Fahmi said the platform's lack of responsiveness is particularly concerning as it is increasingly used to spread illicit content such as online gambling ads and pirated films or TV shows. He added Telegram representatives are expected to meet with MCMC in Kuala Lumpur this week to resume discussions on compliance and enforcement. "Telegram operates with a small global team estimated at around 50 employees, despite having roughly one billion users. "They rely heavily on automation and AI for moderation, but differences in legal frameworks between countries cannot justify ignoring Malaysian regulations," he said. Between Jan 1 and June 26 this year, MCMC received 188,528 complaints involving various digital platforms, of which 173,642 resulted in content takedowns. Online gambling made up the largest portion, followed by scams, bullying and harassment, and obscene content involving children.


The Star
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Ensuring benefits for the rakyat with responsible use of mobile phone data
RECENT discussions surrounding the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) Mobile Phone Data Programme have stirred public debate, raising questions over privacy, cybersecurity and the government's role in data stewardship. As someone deeply involved in nation building in the areas of network infrastructure and cybersecurity, I feel it is crucial to bring technical clarity to the Malaysian public regarding this issue and separating speculation from substantiated fact. Understanding the nature of the data First and foremost, the data collected under the Mobile Phone Data Programme is aggregated, anonymised and devoid of any personally identifiable information (PII). The data only provides generalised metadata such as signal strength, network usage trends, location area codes and other non-personal metrics that can help our regulator assess mobile network performance, digital divide issues and emergency response readiness. To equate this programme with intrusive surveillance is technically inaccurate and misleading. The data points collected are no different, if not significantly less granular, than the metadata routinely collected by global platforms like Google, Apple, Meta and numerous other mobile apps for analytics, service optimisation and targeted advertising. Legal and ethical boundaries are intact The Malaysian regulator, MCMC, in line with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, operates within strict regulatory boundaries. This particular programme does not collect names, phone numbers, call logs, browsing history, or message contents. Generally, the participating Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are very cautious on sharing their data yet, they have had no issues in working closely with MCMC on this project. Furthermore, access to the metadata is limited to selected analytical tools within the Commission, with no commercial or third-party exposure. This makes the dataset fundamentally different from the kind of data typically vulnerable to misuse or monetisation in commercial tech ecosystems. Strategic importance in a digital nation From a technical and policy standpoint, the Mobile Phone Data Programme is strategically very important for national digital infrastructure planning. With Malaysia advancing toward wider 5G deployments and smart city initiatives, regulators require real-time, evidence-based insights into mobile coverage, device density and population mobility to guide resource allocation, spectrum planning, and emergency readiness. For instance, during natural disasters or public health crises, such data can significantly improve our authorities' responses, enabling faster and more targeted assistance being provided to the needy. Several advanced economies, including South Korea, Finland and Estonia, have long adopted similar anonymised data programmes providing effective public benefits and without any complains about infringing on personal privacy. Addressing the misinformation ecosystem It is unfortunate that a narrative of distrust has taken root, largely fuelled by misinformation and a poor understanding of network-level data analytics. In the absence of context, the public is led to fear a 'surveillance state,' even when the technical facts clearly indicate that no such risk exists. MCMC's proactive move to engage cybersecurity experts, telcos and the public through open communication is the correct path forward. Transparency, ongoing stakeholder dialogue and third-party audits should be encouraged, not to defend against wrongdoing, but to reinforce trust in a system that is technically sound and ethically implemented. Final thoughts The integrity of our digital ecosystem must be safeguarded, not only from cyber threats but from disinformation that can undermine our national progress. The Mobile Phone Data Program is not a breach of privacy but instead, an important tool for digital nation-building, designed with checks and balances that preserves user anonymity and protects public trust. Let us not conflate good governance with intrusion, or precaution with paranoia. This part of Malaysia's digital journey uses the carefully redacted data to ensure better mobile coverage and connectivity, amongst other things, to bring better comfort and telco services to the Malaysian public. Prof Emeritus Dr Sureswaran Ramadass APAC IPv6 council chairman and Cybersecurity subject matter expert


The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
MCMC delivers enhanced connectivity to Kg Bering Baru Orang Asli settlement
KOTA BHARU: Residents of the Orang Asli settlement in Kampung Bering Baru, Gua Musang, now enjoy improved connectivity thanks to proactive efforts by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Among the initiatives introduced is the provision of collective Internet access via free WiFi technology. 'Under this service, residents can access the Internet for free through the Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) facility provided. 'Registered users are entitled to 5GB of free data per month, with the option to purchase additional data through appointed agents,' MCMC said in a statement today. Kampung Bering Baru is one of 18 Orang Asli locations in Gua Musang to benefit from BWA services under the National Digital Network (JENDELA) plan. 'As a long-term solution, MCMC has identified a site near Kampung Bering Baru for the construction of a new telecommunications tower. The proposal has been included in the next phase of infrastructure development under the JENDELA plan. 'MCMC will continue to monitor and ensure that communication coverage in this area remains optimal for the comfort and benefit of residents,' the statement added.


Malaysia Dateline
2 days ago
- Malaysia Dateline
'Ensuring Benefits for the Rakyat with Responsible Use of Mobile Phone Data'
by Prof Emeritus Dr Sureswaran Ramadass, Chairman of APAC IPv6 Council & Cybersecurity Subject Matter Expert Recent discussions surrounding the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) Mobile Phone Data Program have stirred public debate, raising questions over privacy, cybersecurity, and the government's role in data stewardship. As someone deeply involved in nation building in the areas of network infrastructure and cybersecurity, I feel it is crucial to bring technical clarity to the Malaysian public regarding this issue and separating speculation from substantiated fact. Understanding the Nature of the Data First and foremost, the data collected under the Mobile Phone Data Program is aggregated, anonymised, and devoid of any personally identifiable information (PII). The data only provides generalised metadata such as signal strength, network usage trends, location area codes, and other non-personal metrics that can help our regulator assess mobile network performance, digital divide issues, and emergency response readiness. To equate this program with intrusive surveillance is technically inaccurate and misleading. The data points collected are no different, if not significantly less granular, than the metadata routinely collected by global platforms like Google, Apple, Meta, and numerous other mobile apps for analytics, service optimisation, and targeted advertising. Legal and Ethical Boundaries Are Intact The Malaysian regulator, MCMC, in line with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, operates within strict regulatory boundaries. This particular program does not collect names, phone numbers, call logs, browsing history, or message contents. Generally, the participating Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are very cautious on sharing their data yet, they have had no issues in working closely with MCMC on this project. Furthermore, access to the metadata is limited to selected analytical tools within the Commission, with no commercial or third-party exposure. This makes the dataset fundamentally different from the kind of data typically vulnerable to misuse or monetisation in commercial tech ecosystems. Strategic Importance in a Digital Nation From a technical and policy standpoint, the Mobile Phone Data Program is strategically very important for national digital infrastructure planning. With Malaysia advancing toward wider 5G deployment and smart city initiatives, regulators require real-time, evidence-based insights into mobile coverage, device density, and population mobility to guide resource allocation, spectrum planning, and emergency readiness. For instance, during natural disasters or public health crises, such data can significantly improve our authorities' responses, enabling faster and more targeted assistance being provided to the needy. Several advanced economies, including South Korea, Finland, and Estonia, have long adopted similar anonymised data programs providing effective public benefits and without any complains about infringing on personal privacy. Addressing the Misinformation Ecosystem It is unfortunate that a narrative of distrust has taken root, largely fuelled by misinformation and a poor understanding of network-level data analytics. In the absence of context, the public is led to fear a 'surveillance state,' even when the technical facts clearly indicate that no such risk exists. MCMC's proactive move to engage cybersecurity experts, telcos, and the public through open communication is the correct path forward. Transparency, ongoing stakeholder dialogue, and third-party audits should be encouraged, not to defend against wrongdoing, but to reinforce trust in a system that is technically sound and ethically implemented. Final Thoughts The integrity of our digital ecosystem must be safeguarded, not only from cyber threats but from disinformation that can undermine our national progress. The Mobile Phone Data Program is not a breach of privacy but instead, an important tool for digital nation-building, designed with checks and balances that preserves user anonymity and protects public trust. Let us not conflate good governance with intrusion, or precaution with paranoia. This part of Malaysia's digital journey uses the carefully redacted data to ensure better mobile coverage and connectivity, amongst other things, to bring better comfort and telco services to the Malaysian public.


New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Ministry mulls reintroducing improved Rahmah p-hailing internet plan: Fahmi
KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications Ministry will review the need to improve and reintroduce the Rahmah p-hailing internet service package, which was offered to e-hailing riders and drivers last year. Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said he would instruct the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to engage with the country's e-hailing platform providers to gather their input. "Last year, we launched the Rahmah p-hailing plan to help riders access more affordable packages. I've seen some have benefited from it. I hope users can also provide feedback so we can better understand how to improve it. "Perhaps we can work with the telcos and encourage them to offer better rates. Insya-Allah, we hope to introduce better packages for riders," he said when delivering his speech at the FoodPanda Durian Runtuh 2.0 launch at KL Gateway Mall today. On Jan 23 last year, Fahmi announced that p-hailing drivers and riders could enjoy internet services from as low as RM33 with data plans of at least 40GB, as a gesture of appreciation for the contributions of p-hailing drivers and riders. The plan, available until April 23, 2024, was introduced in collaboration with telecommunication providers, including CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, TM (Unifi Mobile), and YTL Communications (Yes 5G), as well as 16 p-hailing platform providers such as FoodPanda, Grab, Bungkusit, Shopee, and Lalamove.— BERNAMA