Latest news with #OnlineSafetyAct2024
Barnama
3 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Online Safety Act Expected To Be Enforced Soon
PUTRAJAYA, June 18 (Bernama) -- The Online Safety Act 2024 is expected to be enforced soon after several key processes related to the legislation are finalised, according to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Fahmi, who is also MADANI Government spokesperson, said he is currently awaiting the draft of the Act from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which includes the regulations to be adopted. 'Once the draft is ready and I sign the gazette to enforce the Act, then it will come into effect,' he said at his weekly press conference today. Fahmi said that a committee will also be set up by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, to oversee the implementation of the Act. 'This committee will have regulatory powers over the enforcement of the Act, such as defining what constitutes online harms,' he explained. Prior to this, Azalina said that the new law would come into force once the Communications Minister signs the enforcement order, enabling the government to act swiftly to remove illegal content. Under the Act, platform providers are also required to comply with specified duties of care. Azalina noted that while the Online Safety Act focuses on platform regulation and digital responsibilities, any issues involving children must be addressed within the framework of the Child Act 2001. In a related development, Fahmi said sign language interpreters will have increased involvement in key programmes to facilitate communication with persons with disabilities (PwD).
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Malaysia needs comprehensive AI-focused laws
BANGI: Malaysia must introduce dedicated legislation to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) and mitigate its associated risks, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said yesterday. Speaking after her ministry's monthly assembly and the launch of the National Legal Academy, Azalina confirmed she had formally written to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo to initiate discussions on developing AI-specific laws. 'I've proposed a meeting between the Legal Affairs Division and the Digital Ministry to explore a legislative framework for AI,' she said. Azalina stressed that AI operates on a fundamentally different paradigm from conventional technologies and cannot be governed under existing legal frameworks. She pointed to the European Union's AI Act – the world's first comprehensive AI legislation – as a model Malaysia could study and adapt to local needs. 'We must look at global frameworks like the EU's AI Act, which categorises risks and defines responsibilities, to see how they can inform Malaysia's approach,' she said. She also highlighted broader efforts to digitise the judicial system, including the use of voice-to-text transcription and online filing, noting that such systems must extend beyond Putrajaya to district courts nationwide. Gobind had earlier announced that a detailed proposal on Malaysia's AI regulatory roadmap, currently being finalised by the National Artificial Intelligence Office, would be ready by the end of June. The roadmap may include new legislation, regulatory rules or standard-setting frameworks. Azalina also called for stronger corporate accountability laws, citing the recent fatal bus crash in Gerik that claimed 15 lives. 'We need serious policy discussions around corporate negligence and potential laws on corporate manslaughter, especially when public safety is compromised,' she said. Separately, she confirmed that the Online Safety Act 2024 – which has been gazetted – is awaiting its enforcement date. The Act will come into effect once Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil signs the enforcement order. Once in force, the law will allow for immediate regulatory action against harmful online content and introduce a statutory duty of care on platform providers. An online safety committee will also be formed to define and classify online harms, although child-related matters will remain governed under the Child Act 2001. Azalina confirmed she had formally written to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo to initiate discussions on developing AI-specific laws. – Amirul Syafiq/theSun
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Azalina urges AI laws, cites EU model as reference
BANGI: Malaysia must introduce dedicated legislation to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) and mitigate its associated risks, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said yesterday. Speaking after her ministry's monthly assembly and the launch of the National Legal Academy, Azalina confirmed she had formally written to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo to initiate discussions on developing AI-specific laws. 'I've proposed a meeting between the Legal Affairs Division and the Digital Ministry to explore a legislative framework for AI,' she said. Azalina stressed that AI operates on a fundamentally different paradigm from conventional technologies and cannot be governed under existing legal frameworks. She pointed to the European Union's AI Act – the world's first comprehensive AI legislation – as a model Malaysia could study and adapt to local needs. 'We must look at global frameworks like the EU's AI Act, which categorises risks and defines responsibilities, to see how they can inform Malaysia's approach,' she said. She also highlighted broader efforts to digitise the judicial system, including the use of voice-to-text transcription and online filing, noting that such systems must extend beyond Putrajaya to district courts nationwide. Gobind had earlier announced that a detailed proposal on Malaysia's AI regulatory roadmap, currently being finalised by the National Artificial Intelligence Office, would be ready by the end of June. The roadmap may include new legislation, regulatory rules or standard-setting frameworks. Azalina also called for stronger corporate accountability laws, citing the recent fatal bus crash in Gerik that claimed 15 lives. 'We need serious policy discussions around corporate negligence and potential laws on corporate manslaughter, especially when public safety is compromised,' she said. Separately, she confirmed that the Online Safety Act 2024 – which has been gazetted – is awaiting its enforcement date. The Act will come into effect once Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil signs the enforcement order. Once in force, the law will allow for immediate regulatory action against harmful online content and introduce a statutory duty of care on platform providers. An online safety committee will also be formed to define and classify online harms, although child-related matters will remain governed under the Child Act 2001. Azalina confirmed she had formally written to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo to initiate discussions on developing AI-specific laws. – Amirul Syafiq/theSun
Focus Malaysia
4 days ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Azalina: Online safety act to be enforced soon
MALAYSIA is set to enforce the Online Safety Act 2024 soon following its full passage through Parliament and Royal Assent. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, said the Act has already been gazetted and is now awaiting the official enforcement date to be signed by Communications Minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. She said the law will give authorities greater powers to regulate digital platforms and bolster safeguards, particularly to protect children from online harm. Azalina said the law will come into force as soon as Fahmi signs the enforcement order, enabling the government to act swiftly in removing unlawful content. Under the Act, platform providers will also be required to uphold a defined duty of care. 'After that, there will be a joint council (Online Safety Committee) to define online harms,' she said at a press conference after the monthly assembly of the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) and launch of the National Legal Academy (APN). Azalina said that while the Online Safety Act centres on platform regulation and digital responsibility, any matter involving children must also be viewed through the lens of the Child Act 2001. On a separate note, she stressed the urgent need for stronger legal frameworks to ensure corporate accountability, particularly in cases involving public safety and transport negligence. Citing the recent bus crash that claimed the lives of 15 UPSI students, Azalina called for policy-level discussions on corporate liability, including the potential introduction of corporate manslaughter laws. 'How can a company run a business and not be held responsible? Take the example of what happened with Air India. 'If something goes wrong mechanically, it should not be enough to just pay out insurance. Someone must be held accountable,' she stressed. ‒ June 16, 2025 Main image: Bernama
Malaysiakini
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Online Safety Act to be enforced soon, says Azalina
Malaysia is set to enforce the Online Safety Act 2024 soon, following its full passage through Parliament and receiving royal assent. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the Act has already been gazetted and is now awaiting the official enforcement date to be signed by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
