SCMP OP-ED: Why Facebook and Google must do more in Southeast Asia to combat fake news

From governments to NGOs, Facebook to Google, academics to policymakers, almost everyone agrees that disinformation and fake news are a growing problem. What they tend to disagree on are the solutions.

The authorities in Southeast Asia have often preferred to introduce specific regulations and laws to provide greater tools for police to arrest citizens who create and distribute such material. But these laws are controversial and have been met with criticism from civil society groups and political opposition. Most notable was Malaysia’s 2018 anti-fake news laws introduced by the previous Barisan Nasional government, but repealed by the new administration led by Pakatan Harapan. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad argued: “When you have a law to prevent people from airing views, then we are afraid that the government itself may abuse it, as has happened in the past. We do not want any government, whether this or the next one, to abuse such a law.”

Ross Tapsell writes this op-ed for the South China Morning Post. He is a senior lecturer and research at the Australian National University’s College of Asia and the Pacific.

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