The convergence of computers, communications
and multimedia content enables users to access new virtual
worlds in which distance is irrelevant. This virtual 'superhighways
in the air' makes it possible for people to exchange ideas
and information with those of the same wavelength from
other countries and continents. Through convergence, businesses
will be thrust with a plethora of new options such as
using the Internet to improve corporate governance and
the ability of 'just-in-time finances' can be raised through
Internet enabled public offers.
Across the world governments are already
creating regulatory and legal environments to cater to
the age of convergence. The British government has plans
to make the country the best location in the world for
e-business. If we look to the east, we will see that Japan
has similar plans and our good neighbour Singapore is
well on its way to becoming the most wired nation on earth.
While advances in information technology
and communications fuel convergence, it would in the best
interest of the citizens of Malaysia that the issue is
not left to technologists and the government alone. The
power of convergence makes for the good and the bad -
it can create sophisticated surveillance mechanisms that
can be used to help monitor and combat crime as easily
as to intrude into the lives and affairs of citizens and
businessmen. Therefore, for reasons of access, privacy
and security and protection of individual rights, some
form of regulation is needed to control this phenomenon.
Realizing this, the Communications and
Multimedia Act 1998 has provided for the formation the
Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF). Being
an independent industry body with representation from
all relevant parties, CMCF would govern the convergence
of standalone industries such as broadcasting, telecommunications
and computing into a single industry of communications
and multimedia.
CMCF manages content by self-regulation,
which means cutting the red tape. This form of regulation
helps the government maintain its no-censorship policy
while allowing for free flow of content, which can promote
society's intellectual growth. Self-regulation also means
that resources spent by the government on monitoring content
can also be freed and shifted into creating incentives
for local content. This would help create more opportunity
for content providers and it would also promote local
content and culture, as advocated by the national policy.
The CMCF operates in line with a Content
Code, which is drafted by members representing all the
key industries in Malaysia and currently in its fourth
revision by relevant government authorities. Given the
swift and seamless evolution of convergence technologies
and the cornucopia of options that come with it, we are
likely to see regulatory frameworks emerge, adapt and
change more rapidly than ever. Even so, once the Code
is approved, it will certainly help Malaysia face the
challenges arising from convergence as well as prepare
for further developments in the ICT sector. |
