MalayMail-Nov 5
The rise of deepfake technology has sparked debate over Malaysia’s need to develop laws aimed at combating scams and abuse aided by artificial intelligence. Like many countries across the world, Malaysia is now seeing the potential dangers of deepfakes, or AI-generated media where a person’s face, voice, or body is digitally altered or replaced to create realistic video or audio clips. Several high profile incidents have already occurred this year, with celebrities such as Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, athletes like Datuk Lee Chong Wei, and corporate figures like Petronas CEO Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik having their likenesses used in deepfakes promoting investment scams.
While Malaysia has tabled an Online Safety Bill to enhance cybersecurity in the country, it has yet to formalize its plans specifically to tackle deepfake amid the growing epidemic on online fraud and scams that are costing Malaysians hundreds of millions of ringgit annually. However, some countries have introduced new laws to try and rein in the menace. Here are some examples:
Singapore’s new Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill represents one of the most proactive efforts in Southeast Asia to address the threat posed by deepfakes. The bill aims to counter AI-generated content, particularly during elections, where a deepfake video could be used to falsely portray a political candidate as making controversial statements or committing illegal acts. In 2020, South Korean introduced laws to criminalise the creation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfake content without consent, with the offence punishable by a maximum fine of KRW50 million (RM157,000) and prison sentences of up to five years. Indonesia is also beginning to recognise the threat posed by deepfakes. While the country has yet to enact specific deepfake laws, its Financial Services Authority (OJK) released ethical guidelines for the use of AI in fintech applications in early 2024. Read more at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/05/war-on-deepfakes-what-malaysia-can-learn-from-the-rest-of-the-world/154811
