Conversations in any group messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Wechat, Viber, and Telegram are considered private in nature but investigation will be conducted if there are complaints against the content distributed in the group, said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in a statement, Friday.
The MCMC said it was an offence for a person to use an application like WhatsApp to create and begin distributing any comment, request, suggestion or other communication which was obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in nature with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass others.
The Commission said the investigation would not differentiate action against an administrator or a member of the group.
Thus, MCMC warned that all members should be careful in disseminating information in their respective groups to avoid cases of spreading false news.
"If the administrator or any member of the group is found to spread false information, then legal action can be taken against them," the commission said.
The spreading of false information is an offence under Malaysian law, including Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998, he said.
Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Jailani Johari was previously reported as saying that WhatsApp group administrators could face legal action if they failed to control their group members from spreading false information.
According to the MCMC, based on the facts, evidence and actions, a group administrator could be held responsible in certain circumstances.
Among them, it said, was if the administrator himself made a comment, request, suggestion or other communication which was obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.
The administrator could also be held responsible if he invited others to comment, although he himself did not make one, or if he prevented enforcement agencies from carrying out investigations into certain comments made in the group.
MCMC said it would consider the need to establish guidelines on the use of messaging applications.
"At the same time, people are urged to always remain prudent when using social media for their own protection," the statement added.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri Apr 28 2017
![Investigation will be conducted if complaints received against content on group chats - MCMC Investigation will be conducted if complaints received against content on group chats - MCMC](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-03/51459436185_WhatsApp.jpg)
MCMC warned that all members should be careful in disseminating information in their respective groups to avoid cases of spreading false news.
![Sekurang-kurangnya 4 maut, insiden tembakan di masjid di Oman Sekurang-kurangnya 4 maut, insiden tembakan di masjid di Oman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721096727_RoyalOmanPolice.jpg)
Sekurang-kurangnya 4 maut, insiden tembakan di masjid di Oman
Beberapa orang turut cedera akibat terkena tembakan di sekitar masjid di Wadi al-Kabir, Muscat.
![Penjara menanti pesalah MH17 jika keluar dari Rusia - Pendakwa raya Penjara menanti pesalah MH17 jika keluar dari Rusia - Pendakwa raya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-03/61647267418_Reconstructionofth.jpg)
Penjara menanti pesalah MH17 jika keluar dari Rusia - Pendakwa raya
Menurut Digna van Boetzelaer, kerajaan Belanda tidak pernah meminta ekstradisi mereka kerana Rusia tidak mengekstradisi rakyatnya sendiri.
E-invois dibimbangi tekan pengusaha PKS
Isu yang timbul ialah pengetahuan dan kos tinggi yang diperlukan untuk melaksanakannya, termasuk kos latihan dan penambahbaikan sistem dan perisian.
Tawaran pengambilalihan MAHB dimuktamad suku ketiga 2024 - MOF
Tawaran pengambilalihan Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) dijangka akan dimuktamadkan pada suku ketiga tahun ini dan ia perlu dipersetujui oleh sekurang-kurangnya 90 peratus pemegang saham sedia ada MAHB.
Kementerian Kewangan berkata memandangkan tawaran itu merupakan satu urusan transaksi komersial, maka ia tidak mendatangkan sebarang implikasi kewangan kepada kerajaan.
Kementerian Kewangan berkata memandangkan tawaran itu merupakan satu urusan transaksi komersial, maka ia tidak mendatangkan sebarang implikasi kewangan kepada kerajaan.
![Masa depan industri perhubungan awam di Malaysia: Memperkukuh kepercayaan dan keterlibatan melalui integriti dan inovasi Masa depan industri perhubungan awam di Malaysia: Memperkukuh kepercayaan dan keterlibatan melalui integriti dan inovasi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721096314_MohdSaidBaniCM.jpg)
Masa depan industri perhubungan awam di Malaysia: Memperkukuh kepercayaan dan keterlibatan melalui integriti dan inovasi
Dengan sokongan tiga pertubuhan utama, ekosistem ini hadapi cabaran signifikan, namun berpotensi besar untuk berkembang dan berinovasi.
Jiwa SME: Kejayaan lebih 30 tahun dalam industri penternakan kambing
Osman Goat Farm, yang dimiliki oleh Osman Cheya Kutty dari Johor Bahru, telah bertahan lebih dari tiga dekad dalam industri penternakan. Dengan dedikasi dan inovasi, Osman Goat Farm telah membuktikan bahawa kesungguhan dan strategi yang tepat adalah kunci kejayaan dalam industri penternakan. Produk berkualiti tinggi dan teknologi terkini terus menjadi asas kepada kejayaan.
![Man United tewas kelab kerdil, Ten Hag 'naik angin' Man United tewas kelab kerdil, Ten Hag 'naik angin'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721094442_ManchesterUnited.jpg)
Man United tewas kelab kerdil, Ten Hag 'naik angin'
Perlawanan itu seri tanpa jaringan menuju ke masa kecederaan sebelum Noah Holm menemui jaringan dengan berbaki beberapa saat.
![UMNO Selangor ambil alih proses pemilihan sayap wanita Tanjong Karang UMNO Selangor ambil alih proses pemilihan sayap wanita Tanjong Karang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721096305_prosespemilihansay.jpg)
UMNO Selangor ambil alih proses pemilihan sayap wanita Tanjong Karang
Sulaiman berkata, pemilihan yang diadakan pada 27 Julai ini diharap berjalan lancar dan dalam keadaan terkawal.
![PRK Nenggiri: Ketua Pemuda UMNO Kelantan dinamakan sebagai calon? PRK Nenggiri: Ketua Pemuda UMNO Kelantan dinamakan sebagai calon?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721096218_KetuaPemudaUMNOKe.jpg)
PRK Nenggiri: Ketua Pemuda UMNO Kelantan dinamakan sebagai calon?
Menurut sumber, pemilihan Mohd Azmawi sudah mendapat restu UMNO Bahagian Gua Musang.
![Shaqiri umum bersara daripada bola sepak antarabangsa Shaqiri umum bersara daripada bola sepak antarabangsa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721095061_XherdanShaqiri.jpg)
Shaqiri umum bersara daripada bola sepak antarabangsa
Shaqiri bermain hanya dua kali pada kejohanan Euro 2024 di Jerman, beraksi selama 71 minit untuk Switzerland.