It made the front page of The Sun; its also been reported in The Star Online:
bq. The Election Commission (EC) will monitor material posted on the Internet during campaigning period for polling offences including the circulation of sensitive issues. Commission secretary Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the EC would set up teams to keep an eye on cyberspace campaigning, including through e-mail. He added the EC would track the source of the documents if necessary with the help of IT officers and the Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry.
bq. “If we find any evidence that someone is campaigning by using illegal means, such as circulating sensitive issues via the Internet, we will charge them in court,” he said at a press conference yesterday after briefing state police on election laws, regulations and preparations.
bq. He added that candidates would be held responsible for the behaviour or action of their supporters.
There are a host of bugs with this proposal:
* Keeping "an eye on cyberspace campaigning" - basically, that's all the EC is going to be able to do: they can watch what happens, but they won't be able to do anything about it. The Internet can be a labyrinth of hidden identities and shadows. It really doesn't take a genius to hide his trail on the Internet when using it to run an online campaign. But just in case you need help, here are some wonderful resources to get you started:
bq. Anonymizer
Anonymous Internet - Peace of Mind
Evidence Blaster
BulletProofSoft
* Tracking email - this is a lot more difficult than it sounds; shows like CSI notwithstanding, its a lot easier to hide your email trail than it is to follow one. But having said that, there is a precedent for the interception of email by the authorities.
bq. "(of the Communications and Multimedia Act) Section 234 prohibits unlawful interception of communications. Section 249 sets rules for searches of computers and includes access to encryption keys. Section 252 authorizes police to intercept communications without a warrant if a public prosecutor considers that a communications is likely to contain information which is relevant to an investigation.
* "...candidates would be held responsible for the behaviour or action of their supporters." - this is a potential nightmare. What it means is that Ali, who is a staunch UMNO supporter, can write libelous things and spread a pack of lies on the Internet on behalf of an Opposition candidate and it will be that candidate's responsibility for what Ali has done. This can actually be a new campaign tactic: say bad stuff about the person you really support, and claim that you're saying such things because you support someone else (e.g. the candidate opposing your candidate). This is ludicrous.
Again, all of the above is a fine example of speaking before thinking.
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