Mar
2018
prison time for fake news?
Malaysia accused of muzzling critics with jail term for fake news
Move to impose 10-year sentence seen as attempt to silence talk of corruption before election
More on fake news in this IMS blog:
https://blog.stcloudstate.edu/ims?s=fake+news
The anti-fake news bill, which must be approved by parliament, calls for penalising those who create, offer, circulate, print or publish fake news – or publications containing fake news – with a 10-year jail term, a fine of up to 500,000 ringgit (£90,000) or both.
The bill defines fake news as “any news, information, data and reports which is, or are, wholly or partly false whether in the form of features, visuals or audio recordings or in any other form capable of suggesting words or ideas”.
It covers all media and extends to foreigners outside Malaysia if Malaysia or its citizens are affected.