When the Malaysian government announced it had plans to require social media platforms and messaging services to apply for licenses earlier this year, there was significant pushback. The proposals by the country’s internet regulator reportedly included “pre-emptive action to prevent offences, a kill switch for content deemed egregious, forced auditing of licensees’ content moderation and algorithm processes, and the requirement to have a local entity in Malaysia that would be subjected to local laws”. There was disgruntled murmuring by some about restrictions on free speech, and potential abuse of rules.
Now it seems, however, that the Malaysian approach, which is due to come into effect at the beginning of next year, has piqued the interest of others. According to the country’s communications minister, Fahmi Fadzil, the UK’s media regulatory body, Ofcom, and the Singapore government have contacted the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to ask for more details.
“We might be the first mover on this issue because many governments around the world feel that these big technology companies can no longer do as they please to accumulate wealth and not follow rules and laws,” said Mr Fahmi last week. “Those days will soon be over.”
Most people are aware of the tides of harmful misinformation, outright falsehoods and often successful attempts to stir up hatred that have flooded these platforms and services. The recent riots in Northern Ireland and England are just one example of the disruption, terror and destruction that can follow. Across the world, politicians have realised that the big tech companies are not willing, or perhaps sometimes unable, to provide users and societies with sufficient protection, and that governments must now step in.
“We can’t have a situation where it’s seen as some kind of Wild West,” said Irish prime minister Simon Harris last week, after threats to him and his family had apparently remained posted on one platform for two days after the Irish police had asked them to be removed. “The era of self-regulation of these companies is well and truly over. This will be the year in which there will be binding codes, financial sanctions and personal liabilities on social media companies – and that day can’t come quickly enough.”
Most people are aware of the misinformation and often successful attempts to stir up hatred that have flooded these platforms
US Senator Thom Tillis put it even more strongly to the chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X and others at a senate hearing in January. Accusing them of failing to protect children from exploitation, he told them: “We could regulate you out of business if we wanted to.”
For a long time many authorities appeared to think that the big tech firms were just too dominant to be tamed by any local rules. When they were confronted, however, it was clear that the companies would respond to ensure they weren’t shut out of markets.
In 2021, Australia forced Google and Facebook to strike deals with media outlets to pay for content that appeared on their platforms. AI firms are making a series of agreements with media firms whose content they have doubtless already scraped, not least to avoid lengthy legal action. European Commissioner Thierry Breton warned X’s owner Elon Musk about spreading “harmful content” before his livestreamed interview with former US President Donald Trump. Mr Breton may have overstepped the mark by not consulting his colleagues, but the EU’s determination to be at the forefront of social media regulation is clear.
Ireland’s Mr Harris said it was wrong that these platforms did not “come into contact with the same laws and enforcement” as newspapers did. I agree with him, but he also made an important distinction. For as much as there has always been a degree of cynicism about the whole mainstream media ecosystem – “it must be true, I read it in a newspaper” ran the old joke – historically many outlets made huge efforts to get the facts right. To take a personal example, when I worked for UK newspapers, for several years every single word I wrote was read by libel lawyers before publication.
But trust in many of the legacy broadcasters and publishers has been undermined. If you doubt that, you should watch a recent interview by US talk show host Stephen Colbert. Addressing a reporter from a rival network, he said: “I know you guys are objective over [at CNN], you just report the news as it is.” The audience immediately erupted in hysterical laughter, leaving even Mr Colbert looking taken aback.
This is one of the reasons that misinformation spreads so easily on social media. If faith has eroded in what should be the “trusted sources”, suddenly anyone who can string a sentence together can appear plausible to far too many people.
“Just as there is a right of freedom of speech, there is a right for people to have access to accurate information,” Henry Parker of Logically, a UK firm that monitors disinformation online, said this week.
And for information to be accurate it must be complete and provide full context. It is therefore in my opinion an obligation for all the big media companies who are so delighted that Kamala Harris is now the Democratic candidate for US president to explain just why it was that only a few months ago they were describing her as a drag on the ticket and moaned that it was too difficult to dump her.
All those White House correspondents who colluded in the pretence that US President Joe Biden was as “sharp as a tack” also need to come clean about their reasons for doing so; and answer why, if he's mentally unfit to run for office again, he is still fit to have his finger on the nuclear button when he's only “dependably engaged” between 10am and 4pm.
The failure to do so plays into right wing narratives about the "lamestream" media, a term I hate, as it dismisses the work of so many decent, committed people. But the point is that disinformation of whatever kind – and that includes deliberate omission – is too dangerous to be allowed to proliferate. That is one of the main reasons that regulation is coming for social media.
It would ill behove legacy media firms to be too sanctimonious about it, though. Many ought to be examining their consciences and asking if they are truly in the business of providing “accurate information”, or if they too are focused on promoting their own preferred, partisan narratives, which also provoke division and polarisation – just, perhaps, in a less obviously "egregious" manner.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
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The five pillars of Islam
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
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The%20specs
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Match statistics
Dubai Sports City Eagles 8 Dubai Exiles 85
Eagles
Try: Bailey
Pen: Carey
Exiles
Tries: Botes 3, Sackmann 2, Fourie 2, Penalty, Walsh, Gairn, Crossley, Stubbs
Cons: Gerber 7
Pens: Gerber 3
Man of the match: Tomas Sackmann (Exiles)
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m. Winner: Majd Al Megirat, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Shehhi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: Dassan Da, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Heba Al Wathba, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Harbour Spirit, Adrie de Vries, Jaber Ramadhan.
Revival
Eminem
Interscope
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
Brief scores:
Liverpool 3
Mane 24', Shaqiri 73', 80'
Manchester United 1
Lingard 33'
Man of the Match: Fabinho (Liverpool)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):
PSG (2) v Manchester United (0)
Midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
