Kuala lumpur: The Online Safety Act (OnSA) has been designed with a focus on regulating harmful content rather than targeting individual users or private conversations. This initiative places the responsibility of regulation firmly on digital platforms, addressing issues such as fraud, exploitation, and impersonation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Eneng Faridah Iskandar, the deputy managing director (Development) of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), explained that the Act aims to create a safer digital environment in response to the rise of sophisticated online fraud schemes, including those utilizing deepfake technology and artificial intelligence. "It does not target private conversations or individual opinions. The regulatory responsibility is assigned to platforms based on clearly defined types of harm," she noted during Bernama TV's Ruang Bicara programme titled "OnSA Fights Fraud."

Eneng Faridah highlighted the increasing necessity for stringent regulation of digital platforms due to a significant rise in fraud cases. She pointed out that digital platforms are well-equipped to detect fraudulent activities, as they manage the content within their user spaces. "The platform is the final line of defence, as fraud often originates through advertisements, messages, or interactions on social media," she said, urging platforms to be proactive rather than reactive.

The Act requires digital platforms to implement easy reporting mechanisms, establish clear safety guidelines, and provide tools for managing online risks. It also emphasizes the need for platforms to rigorously identify underage users and filter harmful content, aligning with the Act's provisions for child protection.

Eneng Faridah also mentioned that while AI technology can be misused for fraudulent activities, it can equally be harnessed to identify fraudulent patterns, filter harmful content, and combat online crime. OnSA is supported by various agencies, including Bank Negara Malaysia and the Royal Malaysia Police, to bolster Malaysia's digital defences against fraud.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, previously announced that OnSA was officially gazetted on May 22 and is set to be enforced starting January 1 of the following year.