MCMC to expand filtered internet service to public premises in Selangor

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is set to extend its filtered internet service to public venues and private universities in Selangor, according to a statement by Fahmi Ngah, chairman of the Selangor Islamic affairs and innovation culture committee. This expansion comes after a successful pilot project at mosques aimed at limiting access to online games during prayer times.

Fahmi emphasized the importance of content filtering to prevent misuse of digital resources during significant activities like prayers and learning sessions. He noted that the same filtering system will be applied to private universities and related public premises. In terms of cyber threats, Fahmi reported that 35,073 online scam cases were recorded in June, resulting in losses of RM951.7 million, with investment scams causing RM413.8 million in damages.

He urged the public to practice careful verification by following the principle of 'Check Before Clicking, Think Before Sharing'. Additionally, Fahmi suggested employing artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically screen keywords or fake accounts, thereby combating cyberbullying and extreme content without solely relying on public complaints.