The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has clarified reports that social messaging app WhatsApp group administrators might face legal action if they fail to prevent the spread of false information in the group.
“MCMC would like to explain to the public that all conversations in any group messaging applications like WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, Telegram and such, are private.
“Investigations will only be initiated if there are complaints against the contents shared in that group.
“Hence, the public, whether they are the group administrator or member, should be careful in spreading news in their groups so that it does not become a case of spreading false information,” MCMC said in a statement posted on its Facebook page today.
The commission reminded that disseminating false information is a crime under the law, such as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.
We may be pretending to be getting ready for a free and fair election, but watch what you say!
This is because ‘spreading false news’ includes any ‘derogatory’ or ‘insulting’ remarks about the government in your private chat rooms!
Anyone who claims, falsely, for example, that Najib is the most unpopular Prime Minister ever, will follow Tony Pua and others into the police station to explain remarks that threaten to overturn a democratically elected government.
Because, whilst you have the democratic right to elect your government, the said government does not offer you the democratic right to over throw it!