Ethical information dissemination must be priortised
13 October 2024
TAWAU: All stakeholders must prioritise the ethics of information dissemination to the public to prevent potential negative consequences, especially regarding sensitive topics related to religion and ethnicity.
Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, the Chief Information Officer of the Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Party, highlighted the challenges posed by the rapid and borderless spread of information in today's digital landscape, making it difficult for any entity, including the government, to exert control.
He highlighted the importance of educating individuals about the ethical considerations, regulations, and laws governing what can and cannot be shared with others.
"Today, social media is classified as a new medium in our lives. The development of digital technology has led to the emergence of social media in the cyber world. This medium also represents a new form of interaction in society, as it allows people to connect without face-to-face meetings and while existing in the virtual world.
"Social media can facilitate all matters for society, whether personal or professional. However, its existence without self-regulation can also pose threats to society," he said during his opening speech at the Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Zone 11 & 12 Information Workshop (Lahad Datu, Semporna, Tawau, and Kalabakan) at Hotel De Choice Tawau today.
Also present were leaders from various levels of the Information Department, Women, Youth, and Young Women from Zone 6.
Nizam stated that if information on social media is misused, it could lead to cybercrime, provocation, defamation, propaganda, and other issues that could incite conflict and division among the people, potentially even undermining a government.
In this regard, he said that every individual must educate their family members and those under their leadership about the factors surrounding social media use in society.
"They also need to identify the impacts of social media use and the measures to curb its misuse. New media, if left unchecked without ethics and education, can lead to conflicts, fraud, defamation, disrupt public order, and some may even boldly challenge the rule of law and the Constitution of the country," he asserted.
He stated that everyone should adhere to three main aspects to be cultivated in society: safety, vigilance, and responsibility, prioritising self-regulation.
"Every individual should cultivate the habit of using proper language when communicating online, the etiquette of using social media positively, and practices such as campaigns—if unsure, do not share. All of this is crucial for preserving the civilization of future generations so that they are better educated to discard any trash content, defamation, and negative matters they encounter," he stated.
