KUALA LUMPUR: The government may review telecommunications legislation to ensure service providers are held liable for network-related issues.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said although the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) already contained provisions on the matter, there was a need to ensure the law kept pace with changing times.
"The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is reviewing the Act to modernise its provisions, and I am aware of proposals for amendments," he said during his keynote address at the International Legal Conference on Online Harms.
In March, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said telecommunications companies could face higher fines under proposed amendments to the CMA.
Then, Fahmi said the government received complaints about delays in service delivery by the telcos.
Separately, Gobind also said the government was focused on facilitating data sharing between government agencies.
"We're developing mechanisms to ensure data requests can be made efficiently, with safeguards like the ability to raise objections and ensuring anonymity," he said, adding that data transfers must comply with the Personal Data Protection Act.
"It's a delicate exercise balancing data protection with the need for effective data use in today's technological landscape, including AI."
Gobind said aside from legislative reforms, there was also a need to train more people in the area of cybersecurity and personal data protection.
He said his ministry is working on scaling up operations and training law enforcement on cybercrimes and the complexities of modern legal frameworks.
"We recognise the need for more personnel and are exploring how to train officers to handle the increasing challenges in cybercrime," Gobind said, adding that proposals would be presented to the Cabinet by the end of the year.
He said adopting new technological solutions, such as online investigation mechanisms, was important as more people move towards digital platforms.
"As we see more online activity, we'll need more investigations, and we'll need new approaches to make the process more efficient."