KUALA LUMPUR: The Anti-Fake News Bill 2018 has been tabled at the Dewan Rakyat for its first reading on today (March 26).
“As the technology advances with time, the dissemination of fake news becomes a global concern and more serious that it affects the public,” read the Bill.
Once the Bill is passed, anyone found “knowingly creating, offering, publishing, printing, distributing, circulating or disseminating” any fake news or publication containing it is liable for a fine up to RM500,000 or imprisonment up to 10 years or both, the bill said.
In the case of a continuing offence, a person is liable to a further fine of up to RM3,000 for every day during which the offence continues after conviction.
In addition to the punishment, the Court may also order for the making of an apology, such as in open court or by publishing it in the newspaper, for example.
Anyone who is found to provide financial assistance for the purposes of committing or facilitating the offence is also liable to a fine up to RM500,000 or imprisonment up to 10 years or both.
The Bill also states that any person who fails to remove publications containing fake news is also liable to a fine up to RM100,000 and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine up to RM3,000 daily during which the offence continues after conviction, The Star reported.
