SEPANG, July 1 — Industry forum Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) said it has what it takes to regulate social media content as an industry forum after civil groups called for a Social Media Council (SMC) to self-regulate the platforms.

CMCF told Malay Mail it already has its own Content Code, and it is ready to lead as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) aims to implement licensing among social media.

"I think what a lot of people might not be aware of is we are an independent self-regulatory organisation,” CMCF’s chief executive Mediha Mahmood said in a recent interview at its headquarters in Cyberjaya.

"We are registered as an industry forum under the Communications and Multimedia Act, and we’re designated as the industry forum which deals with content, and that’s how we’re seen and that’s how we registered under MCMC as well.”

CMCF said its Content Code, a regulatory framework formulated after a discussion with industry players, civil society organisations and the public, is already well-equipped with the rules needed for self-regulation of content within the media industry, including social media.

CMCF said it not only sets out the rules, but also enforces sanctions against participating members for breaching the content code, which also allows non-members to lodge a complaint against participating members.

"This content code has all the content standards and best practices which we took from looking at what international standards are, but at the same time, adapting it to local requirements, local cultures and sensitivities,” she explained.

Currently, no dedicated body in Malaysia regulates social media content, but CMCF divulged that it is happy to do so with additional resources due to the sheer volume of social media content.

"If this is something that they need, we’re able to do that and we will base it on the Content Code. We also need to understand the volume of social media content.

"Even if it’s not us, if any independent council does it, they have to understand number one, the volume of the social media content. So there has to be a threshold on what are the things that they should be reviewing, otherwise, it’s not sustainable,” she disclosed.

Mediha said that CMCF already fulfils what civil society groups recommended when they urged for a separate council to oversee social media. CMCF already: