The Communications and Digital Ministry is looking at measures of law enforcement and community awareness on the dangers of Cyber Threats where cyber criminals use AI (artificial intelligence) tools to hack passwords, leak information and deceive users resulting in data breaches and financial loss.
To a question raised by Dato’ Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail [Bandar Tun Razak], the ministry said in the Dewan Rakyat today (Oct 12) that as a proactive measure in law enforcement on the dangers of Cyber Threats the Ministry, they, through the Personal Data Protection Department (JPDP), is examining and make amendments to some aspects related to data protection personal data under the Personal Data Protection Act (Act 709).
The amendment is to ensure that Act 709 is aligned with current digital technology developments as well as protective legislation personal data globally.
Among the proposed amendments to Act 709 in controlling cyber threats include obligating Data Users to appoint a Data Protection Officer, reporting data leakage incidents to the Personal Data Protection Commissioner and increase the rate of fines which would be higher to Data Users and Data Processors.
The ministry added that, direct responsibility will lie with the Data Processor in the event of any date leakage. At the same time, JPDP is planning to develop AI (artificial intelligence) guidelines to control as well as minimise the rate of access and use of AI related information.
In fostering community awareness in dealing with cyber threats, JPDP, CyberSecurity Malaysia and the Malaysian Communications And Multimedia Commission (MCMC) are actively implementing various programs and initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness as well as increasing capacity development and expertise training cyber security.
In addition, strategic cooperation is also established with enforcement by government agencies related to national cyber security such as the Royal Police Malaysia (PDRM), Securities Commission (SC) and Immigration Department Malaysia which are included under Section 399 of the Code Criminal Procedure for enforcement and development purposes.
Through this collaboration, CyberSecurity Malaysia will strengthen security regulation through the use of AI technology with various data sources to detect security breaches while preventing and responding to cyber threats more effectively.
Currently, the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) and the National Security Council (MKN) is in the process of drafting the Cyber Security Bill which will enforce cybercrime in line with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Code of Criminal Offenses.
