The cabinet agreed today the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) Act 1981 will not be used to restrict the personal freedom of individuals on social media, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.
The government would also continue to support the freedom of expression and individual’s freedom on social media, he said.
“Users of social media apps, such as TikTok, YouTube and others, are free to upload videos on social media without needing to apply for Finas licence or be worried over being prosecuted.
“The government will also amend the Finas Act to update it with current needs,” he said in a statement today.
The cabinet discussed the matter today after the confusion yesterday over news reports which quoted him on the need for Finas licence for filming.
Saifuddin said the requirement for film production licence and the film authentication certificate (SPP) applied to all film producers, either from mainstream media agencies or personal media.
However later in the day, he issued a statement to say that he was only explaining about the existing Finas Act, which was passed in Parliament in 1981 in use all this time, including previous governments.
“In 1981, there was no media social technology such as TikTok, YouTube and so on,” he had said in his statement yesterday.
Today, the minister said the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia will start working on amending the act to make it current. – TMI