If You're The Admin Of A WhatsApp Group In Malaysia, You Have To Read This!

Being the admin of a group chat on WhatsApp gives you a certain degree of power - adding and removing people, banning certain people from the group - but unfortunately, these days, you're also at risk of being sent to jail.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Jailani Johari told Malay daily Berita Harian in an exclusive interview that WhatsApp group administrators can be hauled to court if they fail to stop their chat group members from spreading fake news.

Several laws under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, according to Jailani, could be used against admins who are accused of spreading fake news, slander, inciting sedition and exposing information classified under the Official Secrets Act.

And yes, the admin will also face legal action if he's not directly involve in a conversation.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s fake news, incorrect information or slanderous statements – the admin is responsible for the members,” he was quoted by the daily as saying.

And if you think that this is just a ploy to scare you, well, you're absolutely wrong: in July last year, a man was arrested by the police after he allegedly shared an obscene photo insulted the Malaysian Prime Minister in a WhatsApp group.

Like our good friend Spider-Man once said: 'With great power, comes great responsibility'.