The Anti-Fake news bill 2018 has just been tabled in Parliament today and is awaiting for the cabinet to gazette the bill as law. Minister in the Prime Ministers Office, Datuk Azalina Othman presented the bill to members of the Parliament at the session which once enacted gives the courts the power to remove any medium found to have contravened against the law.

Technology is largely the reason governments are grappling to get a grasp with issues pertaining to misinformation and the potential hazards they may cause, digital platforms spread information to vast number of people within hours leaving authority very little time to react.

The bill is aimed at protecting the people from rapid spread of fake news while ensuring the freedom of speech and rights of expression under the Federal Constitution is protected. Azalina in her address hoped that through the propossed ACt, the public will become more responsible and cautious in sharing news and information.

Under the ACT, dissemination of false information on social media and other digital platforms could end someone up fined RM500,000 or sentenced to 10 years in jail or could even be both. Subsequent offences committed, the offender can be fined up to RM3,000 per day for the duration of the offence after conviction. In addition the court could also instruct the offender to make an open apology to the affected party in a court of law or media.

Another interesting aspect of the Bill ,is that it allows legal action against individuals or organisations who provide financial aids to those who produce and disseminate the fake news. Courts have the discretion to have the publications destroyed or removed if its online and failing to do so can result in RM100,000 in fine and RM3000 for every day it stays active.

While we can see the pro’s and con’s of the need of such an Act, certain quarters argue on the need of another Law for sedition. The interpretation of Fake News is very vague and how will it be defined is in question and by who/m.