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Malaysia identifies 1,500 fake social media accounts

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said the characteristics of these fake accounts are using other’s identity, fabricated organization or fake details.

News Desk (Sin Chew Daily/ANN)
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Fri, July 21, 2017

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Malaysia identifies 1,500 fake social media accounts The public, now exposed to all kinds of unfiltered information on the internet, including hoaxes, fake news and propaganda, need the service of journalism, the traditional kind, more than ever. (Shutterstock/File)

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ased on public complain and monitoring by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), 1,500 social media accounts have been identified as fake accounts.

In an email reply, MCMC said the characteristics of these fake accounts are using other’s identity, fabricated organisztion or fake details.

MCMC pointed out that a total of 1,500 social media accounts have been identified with follow up actions taken. However, MCMC did not reveal the name list of identified fake accounts.

It said once the fake account users violate Section 233 of Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998, they are liable to a maximum fine of RM50,000 (US$11,661) or a maximum jail of one year or both.

Under the section, anyone who makes any comment, request, suggestion which is obscene, indecent, false, or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person is liable to the penalty if convicted.

MCMC said it will also take administrative measure to lodge report against fake accounts to the respective social media platforms as they have violated regulations set by those platforms.

“On offences under other acts, they would be handed over to the respective enforcement agencies.”

Fake account holders would be investigated under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act as part of the procedure and investigation process. The fake account holders are entitled to defend or appeal against action taken against them.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said on 9 July that 1,500 fake account holders have been identified from January to June this year and action would be taken against them.

He said these fake account holders release fake news through Facebook, Twitter and other social media. The government would work with police to take action against them including delete the accounts.

The ministry would be going after fake news as those fabricated information have smeared the country.  The ministry would also be taking action against political parties which have crossed the base line.


This article appeared on the Sin Chew Daily newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
 

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