Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is spearheading the development of the ASEAN Guidelines on the Safe and Responsible Use of Social Media Platforms, recognising the growing challenges associated with social media use. Leading the Malaysian delegation at the 17th Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI), Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said that the initiative aimed to provide harmonised guidance for the region, produce a comprehensive report assessing social media regulations across ASEAN member states, and ultimately support practical guidelines reflecting ASEAN’s unique context.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative is currently in the crucial phase of information gathering and expert consultations. Questionnaires have been circulated, and nominations for interviews and participation in validation workshops have been requested. These efforts are vital to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the benchmarking exercise, significantly strengthening the quality of the guidelines. Teo emphasised that contributions from all ASEAN member states are essential to create a safer, more responsible social media environment for the region.
Teo highlighted that digital expansion had exposed users to greater risks, including scams, online harassment, hate speech, and disinformation. Different regulatory approaches and varying definitions across ASEAN member states could lead to unequal protections for citizens, higher compliance costs for platforms, and challenges in cross-border enforcement.
As Malaysia prepares to assume the Chairmanship of SOMRI Working Group on Information, Media and Training (SOMRI WG-IMT) and the Task Force on Fake News in 2025, Teo reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to building on collaborative initiatives, enabling ASEAN citizens to navigate the evolving media landscape securely. She stressed the importance of a strong, inclusive, and trusted media and information ecosystem to achieve a resilient, responsive, and connected ASEAN by 2035.
Teo also mentioned several significant ASEAN-led efforts, such as the ASEAN Guideline on Management of Government Information in Combating Fake News and Disinformation, endorsed at the 16th AMRI in Da Nang in September 2023. She noted the ASEAN-Australia Workshop on Managing Government Information, held in Jakarta, which allowed delegates to exchange strategies and national experiences in countering disinformation.
Key initiatives discussed at the workshop included the establishment of rapid-response fact-checking units supported by AI-enabled monitoring dashboards, community-based digital literacy workshops, and the integration of media literacy modules into school curricula.
Guided by the AMRI Vision Statement 2035 and building on regional efforts like the Da Nang Declaration and the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Teo reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to media cooperation, digital literacy, and content co-production.
On the 17th Conference of AMRI, themed ‘MAJU-Media Advancing Joint Understanding: Transforming Media’s Role in Advancing Cooperation and Mutual Understanding in ASEAN’, Teo stated that it reflects a collective commitment to transform media into a participatory platform that is inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of all communities across the region.
The Malaysian delegation also includes Information Department (JaPen) Communications and Community Development Service Division director Muhammad Najmi Mustapha, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chief corporate and international officer Syahrilazli Mahammad, MCMC director II (ASEAN and Bilateral) Fatin Nabiha Ab Aziz, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) executive editor for International News Service Mohd Shukri Ishak, along with other high-ranking officials from the Communications Ministry and its agencies.