Malaysia Faces Backlash Over Plan to Broaden Internet Controls
- Government seeks broader powers, penalties for internet misuse
- Critics say it risks censoring internet, suppressing dissent
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The Malaysian government has come under fire for its plan to tighten its grip over the internet, via regulations that critics warn could suppress dissent and undermine Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s pledge to protect free speech.
The government on Monday introduced a bill that seeks to impose stricter penalties on content violations and grant sweeping powers to law enforcement, such as the right of any “authorized officer” to search and seize without a warrant.