Latest news with #MobilePhoneData
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Malaysia cracks down on online critics amid controversial mobile data tracking project
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian authorities are taking action against online critics of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration, with politicians and members of the public being called in for police questioning in recent weeks, charged or muzzled. This comes amid growing unease over the government's Mobile Phone Data (MPD) project, which collects users' mobile data from telcos, without an opt-out option. Despite government assurances, critics have raised concerns over data privacy and security, fearing the information could be misused for surveillance. Already, there have been moves to silence online critics. Most recently , two channels of messaging service Telegram were bloc ked for allegedly harmful content that violated local laws. Whistleblower watchdog Edisi Siasat (investigation edition), with 1.18 million members, and its companion channel Edisi Khas (special edition), are no longer accessible in Malaysia. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission ( MCMC ) said on June 19 that it obtained a temporary court order against Telegram and two channels on the platform for allegedly disseminating content that violates the country's laws. Malaysia's communications regulator said it sought the court order against Telegram following the platform's 'serious failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported to it'. The nature of the harmful content was not disclosed. The MCMC's latest move echoes its 2015 block on UK-based news blog Sarawak Report over 1MDB-related content. And now, at least half a dozen individuals have been questioned by the police for social media posts critical of government decisions, including the data-collection scheme. 'They (the authorities) have to stop the data collection. Why is there a need for large-scale monitoring?' said Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Pahang Youth chief Wong Siew Mun, whose party is aligned with the Anwar-led unity government. 'This involves public interest and trust. We are trying to foster public discourse on this... We have a role to play in making sure the government is doing the right thing ,' she told The Straits Times, adding that the data-collection project should be tabled in Parliament for debate and scrutiny. Ms Wong was questioned by the police on June 18 over a video she posted on TikTok, in which she questioned whether Malaysia is truly undergoing reform s or slipping into 'dictatorship,' following the government's decision to collect data from telcos without individual s' consent. In its pilot phase, the MPD project is expected to continue until 2026. The government and telcos stress that only 'anonymous' data will be collected – meaning, no names or ID numbers – and that the data is for official use and is protected by strong laws, information leaks can and do happen . But experts warn that even when data is anonymous, it can sometimes be pieced back together to identify individuals. 'No personal data will be shared,' and 'we are not aiming to track the whereabouts of any individual,' MCMC deputy managing director Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin told the media on June 9. The growing scrutiny and pushback against critics comes at a time when the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration is facing growing public discontent, including over the rising cost of living, even as it faces growing tensions within the ruling coalition. All of which appears to contradict his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition's longstanding commitment to free speech, undermining his reform agenda. In fact, social media censorship in Malaysia surged during Datuk Seri Anwar's first year in power, according to a TikTok report released in mid-2024. Currently , several individuals are being investigated by the authorities , including those questioning political developments within the ruling coalition. Lawmaker and former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli on June 9 highlighted the case of X user Amer Hamzah, whose wife filed a police report after their home was visited by officers from both the MCMC and the police. Besides Mr Amer, Mr Rafizi also identified other social media accounts allegedly targeted for commenting on the recent internal elections of his Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), where Nurul Izzah Anwar, the Prime Minister's daughter, was declared deputy president over Rafizi, who held the post previously. 'The content under investigation merely constitutes personal opinions about the PKR elections and does not violate any law. If it is indeed considered an offence, then it should be addressed through transparent and legitimate procedures, not through tactics that instil fear,' Mr Rafizi said in a statement. The MCMC also summoned social media influencer Aliff Ahmad in April after he posted an offer on Facebook to investigate Ms Nurul Izzah's background using his platform, Scrut Analytica, if the post received 20,000 shares. Meanwhile, online seller Norizan Yahaya, 62, was charged on June 13 with posting offensive content regarding the authorities' investigation into the GISB sect on YouTube in September 2024. He was charged under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both. In January, Malaysia introduced a new social media law requiring social media platforms and messaging services with more than eight million users in Malaysia to obtain a licence or face legal action. In pushing for the licensing of social media platforms, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil had said the measure is needed to combat the spread of online crimes, including scams, gambling, and child pornography. The minister has also sought to allay fears among the public over the data-collection scheme. 'The telcos will not be sharing any data containing personal information. Only anonymised data will be (shared), and it will be processed as carefully as possible by the telcos,' he was quoted as saying by the Free Malaysia Today news website on June 8. In addition, the Department of Statistics Malaysia posted on X on June 10 that the data collected would subject to appropriate safeguards. But the skeptics are not buying it. 'There is no such thing as anonymised,' X user Thevesh posted on June 7, adding that such data could be reidentified when combined with other information and thus 'very prone to abuse.' Sensitive behavioural data involving one's health, lifestyle or religious matters could easily be uncovered, noted Woon King Chai, director at Malaysian think-tank Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research. 'A user who connects to a transmitter in Taman Tun Dr Ismail every weekday at 7.20am and another in Putrajaya at 8.45am reveals a consistent home-to-work pattern,' he said, in a post on the Malay Mail's news website on June 17. He also expressed concerns about the growing intolerance of free speech, saying that when individuals who publicly questioned the MPD project are 'subjected to investigations and enforcement action', this fuels fears that the initiative is 'less about planning and more about control'. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Both sides back MCA's Wong
PETALING JAYA: Youth wings from across the political spectrum have come out in support of Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun, who is under police investigation over her recent remarks on the government's mobile phone data collection initiative. The leaders criticised the investigation as an overreach, saying that Wong was merely raising legitimate concerns relating to public interest. Shared concerns: (From left) Bastien, Hafiz, Faiz and Neow have defended Wong. Barisan Nasional Youth secretary Hafiz Ariffin expressed shock that Wong was summoned to Bukit Aman, noting that the government has pledged to uphold freedom of speech. Hafiz said Wong was simply questioning the move to instruct telcos to provide anonymised mobile data to the government. 'This isn't a political issue. It concerns the privacy of Malaysians. As a political activist, she has every right to raise it,' he said. Barisan Youth communications director Neow Choo Seong echoed that sentiment, urging the Communications Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to re-evaluate their approach to handling such matters. He argued that instead of suppressing dissent, authorities should allow open dialogue and be accepting of differing views. 'We must tolerate differing views and prioritise the people's issues. That's the essence of real reform,' said Neow, who is also MCA Youth information chief. Segamat Umno deputy chief Datuk Bastien Onn said that if Wong is simply voicing grassroots concerns, the authorities should not pursue further action against her. 'It's within the norm of freedom of speech, where it is incumbent on every politician to speak up for the people,' he said. 'The issue is, how will the police handle this without making the other person feel oppressed?' Bersatu Youth vice-chief Faiz Rahmad also defended Wong, saying her remarks were based on publicly available information, including international news reports and government statements. Wong had her statement recorded at Bukit Aman on Wednesday. She is being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, for allegedly causing public alarm and misusing network facilities. Earlier this month, MCMC clarified that the Mobile Phone Data collection initiative only involves eight types of anonymised data from network providers, and does not include personally identifiable details such as names, IC numbers or phone numbers. Instead, the data types included are the Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number, unique ID, mobile country code and GPS coordinates of telco towers, among others. However, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has called for the initiative to be halted, warning that it could erode public trust and lead to abuse. Dr Wee also questioned the effectiveness of anonymisation, arguing that with advanced technologies, sensitive personal information could still be revealed.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
MCMC: Telcos have more data
PETALING JAYA: Mobile phone data collected by the government is far less than what big tech companies already have, says a Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) commissioner, amid continued concerns over the initiative. MCMC commissioner Derek Fernandez said the data collected by the Mobile Phone Data (MPD) programme is anonymised and does not contain any personal information. 'The data we request does not include names, addresses, IC numbers or phone numbers. It's only general data. 'Big tech companies already have more personal data. They know where you are, what you're buying. Isn't that a bigger concern?' he said, addressing critics of the initiative who fear the data could be misused. Fernandez said the MPD initiative is grounded under International Telecommunications Union practices, a UN agency for information and communication technologies. (Click To Enlarge) 'The most important thing is that we tell the telcos not to send us personal identification. Only the Statistics Department will have access to the anonymised data for analysis and policymaking. 'For example, if I want to know how many people like going to a certain place on a Friday, I can either choose to sit there and count, or check mobile phone usage. 'We don't have granular data on the exact location of the device, only the cell tower it is connected to,' Fernandez added. At a media briefing on June 9, MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin said all mobile network operators have agreed to comply with the MFD. He also said the Statistics Department will process and analyse the data for publication. The collected data will be stored at a MCMC premise for three years, while the project, which is in the pilot phase, will continue until 2026. Telcos have since reaffirmed their commitment to protecting customer data and privacy as the exercise is carried out. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong also proposed that the government address possible pitfalls with the exercise.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
‘Collection of metadata poses risks'
PETALING JAYA: Like puzzle pieces scattered across a table, bits of digital data may appear meaningless on their own. But with enough time, as well as location and behavioural clues, a recognisable picture can emerge. That is the concern raised by cybersecurity experts over a government initiative to collect anonymised mobile phone data. The Mobile Phone Data (MPD) programme, introduced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), is intended to support public policy, particularly in tourism and infrastructure planning. Although authorities have emphasised that the data excludes names and identification numbers, experts warn that by combining the anonymous data with other metadata such as tower location, timestamps and user behaviour, it could still expose individuals to reidentification and cyber threats. According to AI Society president Dr Azree Shahrel Ahmad Nazri, even coarse location data such as cell tower logs can be used to build a person's detailed behavioural profile. 'From just a few days of movement data, researchers can predict who you are with over 90% accuracy,' he claimed when contacted. 'This is why metadata is not truly anonymous.' MCMC, in a media briefing last week, clarified that IMEI numbers and SIM card IDs were not among the data fields requested. However, Azree Shahrel cautioned that even without those identifiers, centralising metadata still poses significant cybersecurity risks. He also warned that such repositories could become high-value targets for hackers, cybercriminals or foreign actors. 'If breached, this data could form a detailed map of user routines, enabling highly targeted attacks or surveillance,' he said. He suggested that persistent identifiers, such as anonymised mobile numbers, be replaced with session-based tags, and that precise timestamps be aggregated to reduce the risk of tracking individuals. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak lecturer Chuah Kee Man echoed those concerns, pointing out that the MPD does not currently violate the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA), as anonymised metadata and government agencies fall outside its scope. However, he argued that this legal blind spot still raises red flags. 'The collection is occurring without the public's explicit consent or even knowledge. 'And while it may not breach the PDPA directly, it creates ethical and legal issues surrounding the erosion of privacy rights,' he said. He warned that once data is stored at this scale, it could potentially be used for political profiling, social control or surveillance. 'The integrity of how this data is used relies entirely on those managing it – both now and in the future,' he said. He called for a shift in approach, including the principle of data minimisation, where only essential data is collected, and for the implementation of informed consent policies. 'If the government insists on collecting such data, it must demonstrate a clear need and adopt every possible measure to protect users,' he said. Cybersecurity specialist Fong Choong Fook said public concern about the MPD programme is not unfounded, especially given previous data breaches involving government-linked agencies. 'One of the most notable cases was in 2017, when the personal data of 46 million Malaysians was leaked after the MCMC outsourced work to a contractor. 'Incidents like these continue to shape public scepticism,' he said. The massive data breach in 2017, believed to affect almost the entire population of Malaysia, included lists of mobile phone numbers, identity card numbers, home addresses and SIM card data of 46.2 million customers from multiple mobile phone and mobile virtual network operators. 'Take note that the PDPA does not apply to MCMC. This means that if a data leak were to occur, MCMC would not be held liable,' he said, highlighting a gap in accountability. Fong urged the government to be transparent about the anonymisation process and to release a clear set of guidelines outlining how the data is managed, what safeguards are in place and how privacy is protected. 'There should be a publicly accessible framework, or at least a white paper that can be scrutinised by independent experts. 'We cannot continue operating in a black box,' he said.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
MCA will fully support Pahang Youth chief, says Dr Wee
PETALING JAYA: MCA will support its Pahang Youth chief Wong Siew Mun with legal assistance, as she is due for questioning by Bukit Aman over the telco data issue, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. 'The Pahang MCA Youth chief is scheduled to be questioned by the police in Bukit Aman regarding a video in which she cited a media report on the Government's directive for telcos to hand over user data,' the MCA president said in a Facebook post Monday (June 16). 'I have assured her that she has the full support of the party, and we will provide all necessary legal assistance." the Ayer Hitam MP said, adding that he was glad to see her in his office on Monday morning, shortly after she was discharged from hospital. ALSO READ: Dr Wee questions probe against MCA youth leader over mobile data criticism Dr Wee lauded Wong for her courage and boldness in speaking the truth and standing up for the people which he said was truly commendable. 'The people deserve to know why the Statistics Department of Malaysia (DOSM) has instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to order telcos to hand over the data,' he said. "Wishing you all the best, Siew Mun! Continue to stand with the people and be their voice,' he added. Dr Wee had also previously flagged the Mobile Phone Data collection exercise. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has since explained that the move is to support evidence-based policymaking in two key sectors, namely information and communications technology (ICT) and tourism. MCMC also stressed that the data will be anonymised before submission and that no individual subscriber can be identified.
