Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has reminded global technology giants that they are not above national laws, asserting that even big tech must respect the sovereignty of individual countries.
“There are regulations that have been put in place for safety, security and big tech must listen to our laws,” he said during a panel session at the World Summit on the Information Society+20 High-Level Event (WSIS+20).
Highlighting Malaysia’s proactive stance, Fahmi announced the country’s leading role in developing the Guidelines for Safe and Responsible Use of Social Media Platforms for ASEAN.
“These guidelines will help to serve, perhaps, as a beacon in the dark for ASEAN nations… respecting our respective sovereignties, but also the principle of ASEAN centrality,” he said.
The non-binding regional reference aims to provide common principles, best practices and recommendations for governments, platforms and users to promote online safety and cyber wellness.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen collaboration between ASEAN information sectors and social media platforms to combat harmful online content while safeguarding freedom of expression across member states.
