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M'sian authorities reneges on "hands-off" policy

Summary

A proposed online content code which seeks to establish codes of ethics over the Internet gives rise to concern as the Association of the Computer Industry (Pikom) feels that the government is going back on its "hands-off the Internet" policy.

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KUALA LUMPUR--A proposed online content code which seeks to establish codes of ethics over the Internet gives rise to concern as the Association of the Computer Industry (Pikom) feels that the government is going back on its "hands-off the Internet" policy.

Pikom fears that without careful consideration and implementation this may be the start towards regulating the Internet, clearly an act that Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad repeatedly assured will not happen.

The Online Content Committee (OCC) -- which is a sub-group of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (CMC) Content Forum -- was directed (by the CMC) to draft a code of ethics and practice for the local content industry. This code is to be submitted to the CMC by month end.

The committee has come up with a working draft of the code which covers the legal status of the code, content type and the establishment of a complaints bureau.

Content providers, Internet access providers and Internet Service providers will upon registration of the code be expected to live by it.

The industry should self regulate and the role of regulator should not be vested with the CMC or the government, said Alan Fung, Pikom executive director.

"We would not like to see the content code becoming a burden to consumers and the industry," Fung said.

He claimed that startling as it may sound, many regulators and industry players were beginning to subscribe to the thought that absolute freedom on the Internet would do more harm than good.

The content code will have the force of law and will be enforced by the Content Forum, which has been given the task of formulating an enforcement body, failing which this responsibility will fall into the hands of the CMC.

The first draft of the code, which is currently under review, was deemed too rigid by many and having the force of law is viewed by some industry players as a form of censorship while to others, it will undoubtedly impede further the already slow growth of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) as a testbed for new applications.

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