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KUALA LUMPUR – The government and religious institutions will continue efforts to curb any elements or scenes deemed to be promoting inappropriate culture such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) features in films or social media like TikTok.
Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the government constantly monitors such platforms and would take severe action against individuals found promoting such elements.
However, the government would not be able to control the contents broadcast on platforms like online streaming and over-the-top (OTT) platforms based abroad like Netflix.
“Provisions in the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) do not include censorship of such contents, which is spelled out under Section 3(3) of the act.
“In addition, OTT services like Netflix are not like public broadcast services or private institutions in the country that fall under the existing laws involving licensing and censorship in the country,” he told the Dewan Negara during a question-and-answer session, here today.
Zahidi said this in reply to a question from senator Datuk Ahmad Yahaya who wanted to know the ministry’s position on a proposal to control content and programmes broadcast or released on platforms like Netflix, to curb inappropriate culture among the public.
Accepting or rejecting the broadcast and streaming of content on such platforms is the choice of users through subscription, but subscribers are urged to take self-control measures.
Zahidi said parents and guardians can control the exposure of such contents among their children or loved ones by applying special passwords or pin numbers to restrict children from using such platforms. – Bernama, August 10, 2022