BD's KL mission issues social media guideline for workers

The Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur has issued a set of guidelines advising Bangladeshi migrant workers in Malaysia on the appropriate use of social media and online platforms, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

The guidelines, shared by the High Commission, outline both recommended practices and activities workers should avoid while using social media in the host country.

Among the recommended practices, workers are advised to comply with Malaysian laws, workplace policies and cyber regulations, as well as respect local religious, social and cultural values. The guidelines encourage the use of social media to maintain positive contact with family and friends and call on workers to follow their employer's policies before sharing any information, photos or videos related to their jobs or workplaces.

Workers are also urged to remain cautious of unfamiliar individuals, unknown links, files or messages and to stay alert to scams and phishing attempts. The High Commission further advised workers to verify the authenticity of information, photos or videos before sharing them and refrain from suspicious or provocative online activity.

On activities to avoid, the guidelines instruct workers not to share, like or comment on posts, photos, videos or messages linked to terrorism, extremism or banned organisations, and not to spread rumours, false information or hate speech. Workers were also cautioned against sharing or promoting posts related to international conflicts — including the Israel-Palestine and Iran-Israel situations — that could violate local laws.

The guidelines additionally bar workers from taking part in political activities or online campaigns prohibited in the host country and from making donations to individuals, organisations or online fundraisers without proper verification.

Other restrictions include a ban on photographing or publishing images of workplaces, airports, ports or security-sensitive locations and on sharing personal documents such as passports, visas, national identity cards or banking information on social media. Workers were also told to avoid posts or debates that could incite religious, ethnic or racial hatred.

The High Commission further warned against involvement in fake job advertisements, illegal visa schemes, high-return investment scams or cryptocurrency-related fraud and instructed workers not to post, comment on or react in support of or praise for any criminal, violent or illegal activity.