THE government is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of security protocols related to the use of cloud computing, with a focus on protecting sensitive data and ensuring national data sovereignty.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the review includes an assessment of international legal frameworks such as the United States' Cloud Act, as Malaysia considers the implications for data ownership and cross-border data access.
"The government is still studying this matter. We have not taken any action yet — we are in the process of thoroughly examining it," he said after delivering a keynote address at the Online Safety in a World of AI* forum in the capital today.
He stressed the importance of careful long-term planning, especially on the question of data ownership.
"These are issues that must be discussed in greater detail — particularly on who owns the data. We must plan not just for now, but for the future as well," he said.
Fahmi added that more countries are now focusing on data sovereignty, particularly in light of the vast amounts of personal and behavioural data collected by global tech firms and social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok.
Concerns have grown over how these companies store, access and potentially share user data, prompting governments around the world to explore tighter regulatory frameworks. - September 13, 2025
