KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Kuching Branch’s Youth Chairman, Nicholas Wung, has raised concerns regarding the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)’s directive requiring telecom companies to submit mobile call records from the first three months of 2024.
The request is based on the 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act, which mandates compliance, with penalties including fines or imprisonment for non-compliance.
However, the public has voiced concerns that the provisions of the provisions may be ambiguous and could be misused.
Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil assured that the data collection does not involve personal information or public surveillance. However, his explanation has not alleviated public concerns about privacy infringement.
Many fear that the government could use the data to suppress dissent or engage in political surveillance, potentially curbing freedom of speech and heightening worries about excessive government oversight.
Wung noted that Malaysia’s freedom of expression has come under international scrutiny in recent years. Organisations such as Human Rights Watch have highlighted that laws like the Sedition Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act have been used to tighten control over speech and public gatherings.
This latest move to collect data may signal increased government monitoring, further restricting communication freedoms, particularly for those critical of the government.
He also highlighted that mobile phones contain sensitive personal data, including identity card numbers, addresses, banking details, contact lists, photos, and diaries.
If such data were to be leaked, he said, individuals could face harassment or extortion. While telecommunications companies insist that they will only provide anonymized data without identifiable personal details, the risk remains. If their databases are hacked, users’ private information could be exposed, increasing the risk of identity theft.
Given the scale of user data involved, Wung questions whether MCMC has sufficient legal justification for the request, whether an independent oversight body has reviewed the move, and whether users have been properly informed and their consent obtained. He urges MCMC to provide the public with clear explanations regarding these critical issues.
By Connie Chieng