24-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia’s Digital Minister, Gobind Singh Deo, has called upon Microsoft and CrowdStrike to consider reimbursing local companies that suffered financial setbacks during the global tech outage. The minister’s appeal comes as the nation grapples with the fallout from a faulty security software update that wreaked havoc on computer systems worldwide.
The incident, which occurred last Friday, saw a problematic update to CrowdStrike’s security software cause crashes in computers running Microsoft’s Windows operating system. The ripple effect of this malfunction was felt across various sectors globally, with Malaysia experiencing significant impact across its government and private sectors.
Minister Gobind revealed that five government agencies and nine companies spanning aviation, banking, and healthcare were among those affected in Malaysia. In a press conference held on Wednesday, he disclosed that he had engaged in discussions with representatives from both Microsoft and CrowdStrike, seeking a comprehensive report on the incident and urging the tech giants to implement measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
“I’ve requested them to consider any claims for damages or losses and explore the extent to which they can assist in resolving these issues,” Gobind stated. He further added that the Malaysian government would offer support in facilitating these claims where feasible. However, the total monetary impact of the outage remains undetermined at present.
The minister’s call for compensation echoes sentiments expressed by prominent figures in the Malaysian business community. Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, which operates the budget airline AirAsia, was quoted by the state news agency Bernama asserting that affected airlines deserve recompense for their losses. “The principle is that if we do something wrong, we have to compensate. We, other airlines, and other businesses lost a lot,” Fernandes remarked, emphasising the need for accountability in the tech sector.
This incident has highlighted the vulnerabilities inherent in the increasingly interconnected global digital infrastructure. As businesses and governments worldwide become more reliant on technology, the potential for widespread disruption due to software glitches or cyber incidents grows exponentially.
The Malaysian government’s proactive stance in seeking redress for affected entities underscores the growing recognition of the economic impact of tech failures. It also raises questions about the responsibilities of multinational tech companies in mitigating and compensating for the consequences of their products’ malfunctions.
