Malaysia Says it will Take Legal Action Against Meta Over Harmful Content on Facebook – On Friday, the Malaysian government announced its intention to initiate legal proceedings against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook. The government expressed dissatisfaction with Facebook’s failure to eliminate objectionable and harmful material from its social media platform.
According to the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission, Facebook has been inundated with a substantial amount of undesirable content, specifically concerning sensitive subjects such as race, religion, royalty, as well as instances of defamation, impersonation, online gambling, and scam advertisements. Despite multiple attempts to engage with Meta and request the removal of harmful content, the commission’s endeavors have proven unsuccessful.
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“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,” it said in a statement. “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 said it will not tolerate abuse of online platforms and telecommunications services for “malicious cyber activities, phishing, or any content that threatens racial stability, social harmony and defies respect for the rulers.” Malaysia has nine ethnic Malay state rulers, whose role is largely ceremonial but held in esteem among the country’s Malay majority. Earlier this month, the government issued a warning to Telegram regarding its lack of cooperation in addressing grievances related to content and misuse of the app.
These complaints included the sale of explicit materials, drugs, and investment scams. Local media reported that officials stated Telegram scams have resulted in Malaysians losing approximately 45 million ringgit ($9.6 million) since January 2020. Telegram initially said it wouldn’t participate in “any form of political censorship” but later agreed to work with local authorities to curb illegal activities.
The measures taken against online platforms are taking place alongside six significant state elections that are required to be conducted by the end of August. Although state-level elections do not directly impact the federal government, they are closely observed as they will serve as the initial gauge of public support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, which was established following a contentious general election in November.
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Anwar is facing formidable opposition from the National Alliance, an Islamic-dominated group that unexpectedly gained significant backing from Malays in the previous election. The National Alliance is anticipating another strong performance in the upcoming state elections and has been actively utilizing social media platforms to criticize Anwar’s administration.
