The Dark Side of Social Media: A Call for Stricter Regulations

by Associate Professor Ts Dato’ Dr Husin Bin Jazri, Director of the Global Centre for Cyber Safety at Taylor’s University

Cyberbullying has emerged as a critical issue in Malaysia as recently highlighted by the tragic death of a 30-year-old social media influencer Ms Rajeswary Appahu, known online as Esha, following severe online harassment. This incident has ignited public outrage and brought attention to the pervasive and damaging effects of online harassment.

In July 2022, a 44-year-old mother of three committed suicide at her home in USJ after being cyber-bullied in TikTok. While in 2019, a 16-year-old girl in Sarawak jumped to her death hours after 69 per cent of respondents in her Instagram poll encouraged her to kill herself. Until today the culprits have not been brought to justice.

Caused by cyberbullying and online slander by a group of internet users, these tragic cases raise questions and underscore the urgent need for robust anti-cyberbullying measures in Malaysia to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

The Current Situation in Malaysia

1. There is a significant lack of cyber safety awareness and education, formal or informal, leaving citizens to navigate online safety through trial and error, often getting scammed before learning. Additionally, mainstream and online media can do better in promoting cyber safety education and advocacy.
2. Current cybersecurity agencies focus more on the cybersecurity of companies and organisations rather than on education and support systems for the online safety of citizens. This is seen through the recently passed Cybersecurity Act 2024 which aims to protect critical national infrastructure companies.
3. The absence of cyber safety legislation in Malaysia continues to be a significant loophole in our digital defence and security. This gap facilitates the rise of cybercrimes, scams, online predators, human trafficking, and other digital threats.
4. Research funding for cyber safety awareness and education in local universities is not a main priority. Bigger portions of funding are allocated to other areas of research.
5. Relying solely on punitive laws to address this problem is neither effective nor sufficient to combat cyberbullying, online scams, and other forms of cybercrime.

If no action is taken to change the current approach and mindset of policymakers and digital citizens in Malaysia, we can expect a continued emergence of similar and varied cyberbullying cases.

Strategies in Navigating Future Cybersecurity Regulations

With that, the following are some suggestions that can be considered by relevant cybersecurity agencies in our country:

1. To set up a new agency that focuses on cyber safety, preferably a Cybersafety Commission, as currently practised in Australia.
2. A preventive law such as the Cyber Safety Act, should be introduced to mandate cyber safety awareness and education for all employees, businesses with online customers, and digital citizens in schools and communities.
3. University research funding should aim to make cyber safety research one of its priorities, focusing on both online safety for citizens and the regulation of generative AI technology that could harm human well-being.
4. To fund the creation of new media promoting cyber safety and digital wellness, incorporating both education and entertainment strategies to build high-quality local content for awareness and education.
5. Cybersafety education to be introduced in schools, either in formal settings or as extra-curricular activities in the form of community services and online creative activities. These can be driven by students and facilitated by teachers and professional volunteers.
6. The establishment of a Cybercrimes Victims Support Centre, including support for cyberbullying and scam victims, etc. that is professionally run and funded by the government with adequate budget support.

By sharing these observations and providing suggestions, it is hoped that local cybersecurity agencies such as the National Cybersecurity Committee can take serious consideration of these matters for Malaysia to remain safe and secure in the digital realm, thereby fostering a prosperous Digital Malaysia.