In recent years, accusations of spreading fake news have been commonplace between rival political groups across the world. But in Malaysia, this accusation has taken an ominous turn.
On 2 April, the Malaysian Lower House of Parliament passed the Anti-Fake News Bill. It defines fake news as ‘news, information, data and reports which is or are wholly or partly false.’ An offender is anyone who ‘knowingly creates, offers, publishes, prints, distributes, circulates or disseminates any fake news or publication containing fake news.’
The Bill prescribes fines of up to RM500,000 (£92,000) and up to six years in jail. Furthermore, the Bill has an extra-territorial dimension, as it can be applied to both Malaysians and non-Malaysians outside the country if the fake news ‘concerns Malaysia or … a Malaysian citizen.’
