We have to depend on Google, Facebook to close accounts, says MCMC

Malaysian authorities will apply to Google and Facebook to shut the accounts of those suspected  of inciting violence as well as racial and religious hatred.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) plans to reach out to the social networking giant and Google’s YouTube to weed out content of those attempting to recruit for militant activities and suspects attempting to instigate racial and religious discord.

“However, we can only apply to the site owners and it depends on their decision. The fact is we cannot restrict the entry of social media and the Internet,” MCMC chairman Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

He reportedly said that MCMC was unable to shut these accounts or block offensive content without actually blocking YouTube and Facebook completely. And that was something which would curb the country’s policy on Internet freedom, he had said.

“Information on the Internet is extremely wide and difficult to control, so we are taking preventive measures by educating the people and parents to build self-control at home to avoid the younger generation from being influenced by negative elements,” Sharil said.



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