Kuala Lumpur: The ASEAN Guidelines on Safe and Responsible Use of Social Media Platforms are anticipated to be completed within the next three months, according to Malaysia’s Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. The guidelines aim to tackle the increasing challenges linked with social media usage and are projected to be adopted by all ASEAN member states by the following year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Teo shared that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is planning to organize a workshop this month. The goal is to gather comprehensive and inclusive feedback to refine the guidelines. The initiative, led by Malaysia, was discussed during the plenary session of the 17th Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI), where Teo emphasized the importance of ASEAN collaboration in addressing common social media challenges.

Teo highlighted the necessity of ASEAN countries working together to handle social media issues effectively, as individual efforts may not suffice. She pointed out the importance of a unified ASEAN voice to engage with major tech companies like Meta, Google, and TikTok to foster a safer online environment.

In a bilateral meeting held on the margins of the 17th AMRI, Teo and China’s Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Wang Gang, discussed media collaboration and content co-production between Malaysia and China. They addressed ongoing issues such as fake news and misinformation on social media, with Wang praising Malaysia’s national efforts toward a safer digital space.

Both leaders endorsed initiatives for cultural exchange and the use of social media to boost tourism between Malaysia and China. The meeting included several key figures, such as MCMC’s Chief Corporate and International Officer Syahrilazli Mahammad, and Reza Shahriman Othman, Deputy Director of Policy and Research at RTM.

The AMRI conference concluded after the 22nd Meeting of the Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI) and sessions with Plus Three countries and Japan, which took place from May 5 to 6.