28-7-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia is reevaluating its plan to take legal action against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, after experiencing “positive” engagement with the social media giant regarding the management of harmful content on its platform, according to communications minister Fahmi Fadzil. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had previously threatened to pursue legal action against Meta for its alleged failure to address “undesirable” content related to various sensitive topics such as race, royalty, religion, defamation, impersonation, online gambling, and scam advertisements.
Since then, Meta has reportedly made a firm commitment to cooperate with Malaysian authorities, including the regulator and the police, to address and tackle problematic posts on its platforms. As a result of this cooperation, the MCMC may refrain from initiating any legal action against the company. Instead, the government is considering other measures such as imposing fines on social media platforms that fail to effectively combat harmful content.
Facebook is the largest social media platform in Malaysia, with approximately 60% of the country’s 33 million population having registered accounts on the platform.
Regarding the recent take-downs of several opposition-linked news sites and social media accounts, Fahmi dismissed concerns of increased government scrutiny of online content. He clarified that these actions were likely taken in response to complaints made by ordinary users for violating social media guidelines.
As Malaysia gears up for regional elections next month, which will see Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration competing against a conservative Malay-Muslim alliance, the government aims to ensure responsible content management on online platforms. Fahmi emphasized that the government is not seeking to curb freedom of expression but is drawing a line when it comes to content touching on sensitive issues like race, religion, and royalty.
Race and religion are complex and sensitive topics in Malaysia, where the population consists of mainly Muslim ethnic Malays, along with significant Chinese and Indian minorities. The country also has laws prohibiting insults against its sultans, who hold largely ceremonial roles. An opposition figure was recently charged with sedition for allegedly insulting the sultans.
On a separate note, Fahmi disclosed that Malaysia’s major telecommunications firms are set to establish the country’s second 5G network as part of the government’s efforts to end the monopoly held by state-owned 5G agency Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB). The firms will invest in DNB and utilize its network, eventually forming the second 5G entity once coverage reaches 80% of populated areas.
