So what’s with the black pop-up?

-Malaysiakini, August 14, 2012.

Earlier this year, amendments to the Evidence Act 1950 was passed by Parliament, radically changing how Internet users or service providers can be subject to legal or criminal action.

In a nutshell, legal experts believe that amendments to Section 114A will mean that anyone, including the government, can initiate legal or criminal action against social network users, website owners, mobile device owners or WiFi network service providers over content posted by other individuals.

azlan In other words, if one were to post defamatory comments on a blog, the blog owner might end up getting sued or be charged with criminal defamation.

Malaysiakini believes that this law is unjust and is easily subject to abuse.

“These changes to the law are a mockery to the principle of innocent until proven guilty. We believe that the government is using this subtle change to erode freedom of speech online.

“Malaysiakini calls on all Internet users to stand against these amendments,” said Malaysiakini chief executive officer Premesh Chandran.

Malaysiakini is participating in Centre of Independent Journalism’s Internet Blackout Day browser pop-up campaign to highlight this unjust law to its readers and the public.

For further details, visit the official campaign website.

FAQ on the 114A

Is this a new law?

No, it’s an amendment made earlier this year in the Evidence Act. Previously, when someone was charged with sedition for a blog post, the public prosecutor had to prove that Mr/Ms X actually wrote the offending post on his/her blog. Now, if Mr/Ms X claims that he/she did not upload the post, he/she has to prove it.

It’s unclear how one would prove that one did not put up the offending posting. Even if we say that someone has hacked the site and put up the errant posting, there is no way to prove it.

The same applies for WiFi networks. If someone in your house uses your WiFi which is registered under your name to make a post, you will be charged unless you can prove that someone else in your house did it.

Does it affect website owners and blogs, too?

Yes, website owners now become responsible for all comments made on the site.

But isn’t it good? We shouldn’t be condoning defamation and slander online.

Malaysiakini does not condone defamation and slander online. Take our public forum as an analogy. If someone said something defamatory during Debatkini, should Malaysiakini be held accountable, or should the person who makes such a statement be held to account?

It should be the person who makes the comment who should be held liable, not the site owner.

What will be the impact of the amendment?

All websites, WiFi hotspots and homes and offices will have to stop people from using the Internet to post comments. People will be more afraid of speaking up. If the number of people speaking up online reduces, it’s easier to charge and jail the rest.

Those supporting the blackout campaign

At the press time, 57 websites in Malaysia – including the news portals, commercial sites, NGO sites and prominent blogs – are participating in the campaign.

News sites