Victims of online sexual harassment now have a clear path to justice through the anti-sexual harassment tribunal, according to deputy communications minister Teo Nie Ching.
Accessible tribunal process
Teo explained that the law allows victims facing nasty or abusive online comments to bring their cases to the tribunal for review. The tribunal, set up in March 2024, offers an approachable option where victims can represent themselves without needing a lawyer.
All cases must be resolved within 60 days. Teo said the judge will determine whether the behaviour amounts to sexual harassment and may order an apology or, in some instances, award monetary compensation to the victim.
She shared these points during her speech at the launch of the Selangor DAP women’s free legal advice programme, held in conjunction with International Women’s Day in Kuala Lumpur today.
Challenge of anonymous abusers
Teo, who is also DAP women’s chief, pointed out a major difficulty in tackling online harassment – identifying the perpetrators. Unlike physical cases where the harasser is usually known, online abusers often hide behind fake profiles or anonymous accounts.
She questioned how victims can start legal action when the person responsible has no face, no name, and no sense of accountability.
Rising threat of AI-driven abuse
Teo also drew attention to the growing danger of artificial intelligence-powered digital violence, particularly deepfake pornography, which mostly affects women. She stressed that technology platforms cannot escape responsibility for the tools that enable such harm.
She called for gender-inclusive AI governance, with women included at every level of decision-making. Teo added that companies must face accountability and cannot simply blame algorithms or claim they bear no responsibility.
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