There are no current plans to introduce mandatory identity verification for users of social media and messaging applications, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Oct 21).
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NewsTranscript
00:00Is it through this platform that the media companies will be able to force every user to verify their identity through their identity cards and finally release their personal information to the third party?
00:13What is the firm stance of the ministry?
00:17Minister, please answer.
00:19Thank you, Dato' Speaker.
00:20Thank you, respected colleagues.
00:22First, we admit that there are many other social media platforms where the number of users is less than 8 million.
00:31When the ministry set 8 million as the threshold, we also understand that the threshold is not very high.
00:39Because if we refer to the UK or India, their threshold is actually much lower.
00:46It is 5 million and 7 million each.
00:498 million for a threshold set by the Malaysian government is actually not very high.
00:55But our research found that most of these cybercrimes occur on very popular platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
01:07That is why we want to focus on platforms that have 8 million users or more.
01:14We want to see the effect of the mechanisms that will be used starting next year.
01:21After that, if we feel and agree that we have received support from respected colleagues in the ministry,
01:28that this threshold is fair and effective,
01:33then we will consider whether we need to expand this threshold to other platforms.
01:42Second, we want to make a suggestion on how we can strengthen our identity in the cyber world.
01:50First, we need to admit that there are several ways to do this.
01:55First, there are platforms.
01:57We can create an account on Facebook or on TikTok.
02:03If the platform does not require an identity document as a compulsory document,
02:11then it will not be easy for the government to make it a compulsory requirement.
02:19This can only happen if we have a listener and we include it in the Code of Conduct.
02:28But this is not the desire of the government at this level.
02:32Our desire is to see other countries such as the UK, Singapore, and the EU.
02:40The UK is in the process of developing its own industry.
02:45But for Singapore and the EU, they already have their own industry.
02:49So we want to take these countries as an example and see their impact.
02:54But after that, to create a safer cyber world,
03:00we need to strengthen our identity.
03:03I think we need a more detailed discussion.
03:06Thank you, Mr. Speaker.