Social media app security rules under investigation to protect government secrets: Fahmi

Putrajaya: According to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, a regulation or policy is under investigation to ensure the security of social media applications and devices used by officials, especially administration officials, to protect government secrets (Picture).

He said Cyber ​​Security Malaysia (CSM) has been asked to investigate several aspects related to security issues affecting the use of social media applications in all government offices and agencies.

Fahmi said it is because using social media applications like TikTok and Facebook in government offices would indirectly reveal some secrets or sensitive matters to the public.

“I have asked the CSM to really look into all social media applications because we don’t want any violation of the Official Secret Act, especially when the administration officials are handling classified documents. So the safety aspect is very important.

“Second, in terms of filming (social media content). We need to make sure that filming can be allowed in certain locations. It’s one of the things that needs to be looked at,” he told reporters after attending his ministry’s monthly meeting here today.

Noting that some countries have already made progress on the security aspects, Fahmi said his ministry will examine the bases as well as the decisions made to ensure everything is easily understandable and can be adopted in the Malaysian context, or at least offers appropriate options.

As such, the minister said agencies such as the Information Department, the Broadcasting Department and also the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) should step up their efforts to educate people about the dangers of scammers.

He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has also been asked to bring up social media platforms used by scammers to commit crimes.

Fahmi advised employees at the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) to change their computer passwords regularly to avoid data theft. –Bernama