Fake News and its Consequences:
Death of Najib
In the recent case, Due to the post spreading like wildfire and circulated around social media, it eventually reached to a point of Rosmah having to clear up the allegations explaining that her husband is clearly alive and well, and had pinned the rumours as an act of defamation towards them and to stop spreading fake news.
Under media law in many jurisdictions, the deliberate spread of false information especially regarding someone’s health or death, can be classified as defamation or spreading false news, both of which carry legal consequences such as fines, lawsuits, or even imprisonment under laws like the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. It also emphasizes the importance of responsible online behavior, media literacy, and verifying information before sharing it publicly to avoid causing harm or facing legal consequences.
Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA 1998):
Section 233 – Improper Use of Network Facilities, It is illegal to spread content online that is:
False
Offensive
Threatening
- Meant to annoy, abuse, or harass other
Consequences:
Fine up to RM50,000 / up to 1 year in jail or both. Additional fine of RM1,000 per day if the offense continues.
No comments:
Post a Comment