Business

Saturday February 21, 2009

Content code now a must for service providers

By M. HAFIDZ MAHPAR


THE Communications and Multimedia Content Forum Malaysia (CMCF) has been given more bite by the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry.

According to CMCF, the ministry has made it mandatory that all content application service provider licencees under its purview to comply with the content code, which the forum uses for industry self-regulation. Previously, compliance with the code was voluntary.

Content application service providers cover those offering traditional broadcast services, online publishing and information services.

CMCF chairman Datuk Borhanuddin Osman welcomes the move, saying it reinforces the role of the content code and content forum to ensure that the public is safeguarded from unsuitable content.

“Self-regulation is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it allows individual companies to run ahead, experiment and innovate. On the other hand, it leaves the field open to unfair business practices,” he says in a statement.

“To reap the most from self-regulation, industry players must be able to work out the rules of fair play with each fundamental shift in the field.

“Therefore, the timely inclusion of mandatory compliance with the content code provides the content forum with more bite to take action on unsuitable content on behalf of the consumers.”

Borhanuddin tells StarBizWeek that the latest development will encourage more players to join the CMCF since the content code also covers non-members.

“In the past, they might not want to join because they thought it is a burden to be a member. Now they would have no choice. One advantage of being a member is that they can get more information on the code and raise any issue regarding it,” he says.

Under the CMCF’s constitution, its complaints bureau, headed by former Sabah state attorney general Datuk Mohamed Bazain Idris, is empowered to impose sanctions on any forum member breaching the code.

CMCF members include advertisers, audiotext service providers, broadcasters, civic groups, content creators/distributors and Internet access service providers.

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