Ensuring Transparency In Govt S Social Media Removal Requests


 


Recently, the issue of content moderation on social media platforms came under the spotlight, particularly surrounding government removal requests.
This followed allegations that the government had requested the removal of content unfavourable to it. In response, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said in Parliament that the government lacks the authority to do so.
For context, a government removal request is a submission by the government or a responsible authority to social media platforms to remove content. This is based on the content allegedly being in infringement of local laws.
In response, the platform will assess if the reported content is against its community guidelines and if it is, the content will be removed entirely.
However, if the content does not breach its community guidelines, the platform will then assess if it infringes local laws as alleged.
Should this be found true, then the availability of that reported content may be restricted in the country in question.
However, there may be room for differences in interpretation of whether the reported content does run afoul of local laws.
When deciding, platforms may also go a step further and consider if the content has a public interest value, or if it remains within the remit of international free speech rights.
What this means is that platforms do not acquiesce to all removal requests all the time.
For example, between January and June 2023, TikTok removed 92.4 percent of the 847 contents reported by the Malaysian authorities.
Of this, 373 were removed from the platform entirely because of infringements of TikTok’s community guidelines, while 410 were restricted only in Malaysia due to a violation of local laws.
Meanwhile, over the same period, Meta restricted about 3,100 content in Malaysia on both Facebook and Instagram.
There are concerns with this status quo.
Determining legality
First, should platforms be the final determiner of the legality of content for any given jurisdiction? Answering this question requires a careful balancing between the platforms’ lack of democratic legitimacy to determine free-speech redlines and the risk of censorship should governments be the final arbiter instead.
Relatedly, as these platforms are driven by commercial interests, these may inevitably factor into their decision-making process, particularly if the reported content has a large audience on their platform.
Second, there is a lack of transparency on what exactly is requested to be removed and is removed. This reduces the room available for third-party scrutiny of the legitimacy of these actions by the authorities and the platforms.
For example, Meta’s Transparency Centre’s “content restrictions based on local law” page does not provide information on the total number of requests it receives and its removal rate, unlike TikTok. Beyond just another data point, removal rates allow for a glimpse into a platform’s compliance levels.
Third, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) does not periodically publish its requests for removals.
Some insight, however, can be drawn from its December press statement, which highlighted that 25,642 pieces of content were requested to be removed in 2023 because of their harmful nature.
Aside from the non-disputable requests to remove pornography, scams, illegal sales and gambling-related content, questions remain over what constitutes “fake news”, which made up 15.6 percent of the requests it submitted.
Relatedly, there is the added consideration that not all false information is harmful and should be removed.
Further, with the legal basis of these removal requests sometimes being the broadly applicable Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, concerns over a lack of transparency are compounded.
The consequence of the status quo can be seen in the proverbial pudding - wherein one side alleges that the other is unfairly and illegitimately censoring dissent, while the other may be under the belief that their actions are justified.
Moving past this impasse requires meaningful transparency on both fronts.
At the very least, platforms should report the requests they receive to the Lumen Database. Concurrently, platforms can and should, or in the event of non-compliance, made legally required – publish reports containing more granular information.
These will provide meaningful transparency over its content moderation decisions vis-à-vis removal requests and allow for effective scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the government needs to do away with its continued reliance on the outdated and problematic term “fake news”. In lieu, it should adopt more specific categorisations to describe the harmful content it requests platforms to remove.
With domestic politics becoming more competitive in recent years and with social media a crucial arena for public discourse, it is imperative to protect free speech.
Striking a balance between government concerns, platform responsibility and individual liberties will be crucial for a healthy democracy moving forward. - Mkini
HARRIS ZAINUL is deputy director of research for ISIS Malaysia
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.


Artikel ini hanyalah simpanan cache dari url asal penulis yang berkebarangkalian sudah terlalu lama atau sudah dibuang :

http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2024/03/ensuring-transparency-in-govts-social.html

Kempen Promosi dan Iklan
Kami memerlukan jasa baik anda untuk menyokong kempen pengiklanan dalam website kami. Serba sedikit anda telah membantu kami untuk mengekalkan servis percuma aggregating ini kepada semua.

Anda juga boleh memberikan sumbangan anda kepada kami dengan menghubungi kami di sini
Lip Eng Wants Mps Briefing On Govt S Media Code Of Ethics

Lip Eng Wants Mps Briefing On Govt S Media Code Of Ethics

papar berkaitan - pada 6/3/2024 - jumlah : 189 hits
PARLIAMENT A backbencher has suggested that the government brief all lawmakers in Parliament on the recently launched Information Department s code of ethics for journalists Lim Lip Eng said the briefing will allow room for debate on how th...
Nurc Link Social Media

Nurc Link Social Media

papar berkaitan - pada 17/3/2024 - jumlah : 245 hits
Assalamualaikum Jom Follow Saya di Shopee TikTok Instagram Facebookhttps linktr ee nurcshopTerima kasih
Govt Issued Media Cards Should Go Says Ngo

Govt Issued Media Cards Should Go Says Ngo

papar berkaitan - pada 9/3/2024 - jumlah : 158 hits
A media rights group CIJ says government issued media cards can be used as a tool against the media by restricting access PETALING JAYA The Centre for Independent Journalism has called for government issued media accreditation cards to be p...
Malaysiakini Objects To Govt Imposing Its Ethics Code On Media

Malaysiakini Objects To Govt Imposing Its Ethics Code On Media

papar berkaitan - pada 6/3/2024 - jumlah : 237 hits
Malaysiakini is concerned with the government s decision to introduce its own ethics code for journalists which also empowers the Information Department to revoke media passes We support that the media should uphold public interest be accur...
Govt Correct To Discontinue National Load Centre Shipping Policy

Govt Correct To Discontinue National Load Centre Shipping Policy

papar berkaitan - pada 4/3/2024 - jumlah : 144 hits
I applaud transport minister Loke Siew Fook s decision approved by the Cabinet to dismantle the one sided shipping policy favouring Port Klang as the national load centre On Friday the minister announced the discontinuation of the national ...
New Township For Bagan Datuk To House All Govt Offices

New Township For Bagan Datuk To House All Govt Offices

papar berkaitan - pada 4/3/2024 - jumlah : 186 hits
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi meeting members of the community at a back to school aid distribution programme in Bagan Datuk today BAGAN DATUK The government is acquiring land to develop a new township here called Bandar Baharu Bagan Datuk to expand t...
Govt Launches New Bumiputera Policy Painted As Beneficial To All

Govt Launches New Bumiputera Policy Painted As Beneficial To All

papar berkaitan - pada 29/2/2024 - jumlah : 180 hits
The government today sought to update the concept and perception of bumiputera empowerment to one that is compatible with a multiracial society In launching its new bumiputera policy dubbed the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Deputy Prim...
Expedite Social Work Profession Bill Says Activist

Expedite Social Work Profession Bill Says Activist

papar berkaitan - pada 8/3/2024 - jumlah : 156 hits
The social welfare department recorded 4 924 cases of domestic violence in 2023 PETALING JAYA An activist has urged the government to expedite the tabling of a social work profession bill in Parliament to strengthen the social welfare depar...
Banglo Seram Yang Tular Di Media Sosial Akhirnya Terjual Harga Jualan Tak Masuk Akal

Banglo Seram Yang Tular Di Media Sosial Akhirnya Terjual Harga Jualan Tak Masuk Akal

papar berkaitan - pada 20/3/2024 - jumlah : 162 hits
Sebuah banglo mewah yang terletak di Bukit Gasing di sini yang sebelum ini dibiarkan terbiar dan sepi tanpa pembeli akhirnya telah terjual Sebelum ini banglo terbiar itu sering dikaitkan dengan cerita mengenai wujudnya makhluk halus Terutam...
Tattoos Raised And Itchy

Tattoos Portland Maine

Flexibility In Business Operations

Kawan Kawan Cik B Sebaya Dato Seri Vida

Kempen Hartanah Bumiputera Khas Untuk Pembeli Bumiputera Mendapatkan Rumah Dengan Tawaran Giler Menarik

Umno Youth To Protest Extra Hours For Civil Servants Working Shifts

The Difference In The Concept Of Illicit Relationship Between Muslims And Non Muslims

Pensyarah Didakwa Hina Nabi Jawi Turut Buka Siasatan


echo '';
Senarai Lagu Tugasan Konsert Minggu 1 Gegar Vaganza 2024 Musim 11

Info Dan Sinopsis Drama Berepisod Dhia Kasyrani Slot Akasia TV3

Biodata Terkini Reshmonu Peserta Gegar Vaganza 2024 Musim 11 GV11 Penyanyi Lagu Hey Waley

Gegar Vaganza 2024 GV 11 Hadiah Tiket Peserta Juri Format Pemarkahan Dan Segala Info Tonton Live Di Astro Ria Dan Sooka

6 Janji Donald Trump Kalau Dia Naik Jadi Presiden Semula


Jangan Risau Jika Tak Terkenal

Company Director Scammed Of Over Rm1mil By Inspector Harun

Bila Pn Buat Pusingan U

Let S Not Return To The Old Ways Of Tight Media Control

Bank Islam Berwajah Baru Melalui Aplikasi Dan Web

Lava168 1