The Malaysian government announced on Friday that its intention to initiate legal proceedings against Meta Platforms failed to remove objectionable and harmful content from its social media platform.
According to the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Facebook has been inundated with a “significant volume of undesirable content” concerning sensitive subjects such as race, religion, royalty, as well as instances of defamation, impersonation, online gambling, and fraudulent advertisements.
Despite repeated attempts by the MCMC to engage with Meta and request the removal of harmful content, their efforts have proven ineffective.
In a statement, the commission expressed “Meta’s response, which has been sluggish and unsatisfactory, has not met the urgency of the matter and has led to increasing public concern and scrutiny”. The MCMC emphasized, “As there is no sufficient cooperation from Meta, MCMC has no option but to take definitive steps or legal action against Meta as a measure to ensure that people are secure and protected in the physical sphere.”
The commission made it clear that it will not tolerate the misuse of online platforms and telecommunications services for “malicious cyber activities, phishing, or any content that threatens racial stability, social harmony, and disrespects the country’s rulers”. Malaysia has nine state rulers of ethnic Malay descent, whose position is predominantly ceremonial but highly regarded by the country’s Malay majority.
Earlier this month, the Malaysian government issued a warning to Telegram, an instant messaging app, regarding its refusal to cooperate in addressing complaints about content and misuse of the platform. These complaints included the sale of pornographic materials, drugs, and investment scams. Local media reported that Telegram scams have resulted in losses of approximately 45 million ringgit ($9.6 million) for Malaysians since January 2020.
Initially, Telegram stated its refusal to engage in “any form of political censorship”. However, it later agreed to collaborate with local authorities to combat illegal activities on its platform.
The government’s actions against online platforms coincide with six crucial state elections scheduled to take place no later than the end of August. Although state elections do not directly impact the federal government, they hold significant importance as they serve as the first test of public support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, which was formed following a contentious general election in November.
Prime Minister Anwar faces strong opposition from the Islamic-dominated National Alliance, which surprisingly gained substantial support from Malays in the November election. The National Alliance hopes to make another strong showing in the upcoming state elections and has actively utilized social media to criticize Anwar’s government.
