Right call for content moderators, get subject matter experts too

Yesterday Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching called upon the various social media platforms to have content moderators for various languages and not just English.

“It is vital for the social media platforms to have moderators who are fluent in various languages since there are many languages in Malaysia.

“It is very difficult if their content moderators are not from Malaysia or do not understand the local languages. It is difficult to identify the possibility of a crime taking place on their platforms, so there needs to be moderators who are proficient in various local languages aside from English.”

She is reported to have said that at the 2024 Communication Carnival held at Hutan Bandar Putra in Kulai yesterday.

Teo’s call for content moderation in various different social media platforms are welcome.

The call is not new since Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that TikTok has beefed its content moderation in July.

While the above is the way moving forward, there is a dire need for subject matter experts.

These days there are people who create content or become content on matters that are not of their expertise.

As a result of that the content displays content creators’ foolishness for the whole world to see.

We already have one professor from an international university whose expertise is in a language but gives her ‘expert opinions’ on matters that is not her expertise.

Not only are the Muslims offended. The Hindus equally are, since she is butting her head into matters that is of their concern, not hers.

Had there been subject matter experts who are also content moderators, this blunder would not have happened.

Trust me, there are many who are in the same boat as the professor around.