Malaysia: Implemented Emergency (Essential Powers) (No. 2) Ordinance 2021

On 12 March 2021, the Malaysian Parliament implemented the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No.2) Ordinance 2021. The ordinance criminalises the creation, publication or distribution of "fake news", defined as any information "wholly or partly false relating to Covid-19 or the proclamation of emergency". Any person that creates or disseminates any fake news can be fined up to one hundred thousand ringgit and/or imprisoned for up to three years. Moreover, the Ordinance requires any legal person hosting fake news to take them down within 24 hours from the time an order is given by an authorised public officer. Otherwise, such a person can be fined up to three thousand ringgit for each day of non-compliance. Finally, any person "affected by a publication containing fake news" can apply to a court for an order to remove such publication.