Over 56,000 harmful, false online posts removed since 2023 - Teo

KUALA LUMPUR - Online service providers have removed 56,304 harmful posts containing false information, representing 86 per cent of the 65,680 takedown requests submitted between Jan 1, 2023, and Oct 15 this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the requests were made by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as part of its regulatory and enforcement measures under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) and the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866).

During the same period, she said MCMC also investigated 546 cases involving false content under Section 233 of Act 588.

"These actions were based on assessments of complaints received, compliance with platforms' community guidelines and prevailing legal provisions,” she said during Question Time.

Of the cases investigated, 19 were prosecuted, with 12 resulting in court decisions and fines totalling RM75,500.

Another 34 cases were compounded for a total of RM1.72 million, 74 resulted in warning letters, 29 remained under investigation, while 390 were classified as requiring no further action.

Teo said this in reply to Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu), who sought statistics on fake news cases since 2023, including enforcement action and penalties imposed.

To Rosol’s supplementary question on who determines whether information is false and what checks and balances are in place, Teo said content removal involved several layers of assessment.

She explained that MCMC first evaluates complaints from government agencies, enforcement authorities or the public before submitting takedown requests to platforms if the content is suspected of breaching the law.

"Platform providers also conduct their own assessments to determine whether the content violates the law or their community guidelines. That is why not all MCMC requests result in removal,” she said.

To another supplementary question from Suhaizan Kayat (PH-Pulai) on tougher penalties to curb the spread of misinformation, Teo said the government needed the support of all MPs to pursue stricter legal action.

She cited cases in which courts had imposed fines over TikTok and Facebook posts alleging that the government sold diesel to the Philippines, as well as an altered TV3 news bulletin image spreading false information about RON95 petrol and diesel prices.

"These cases show why stronger action is necessary, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) has made image manipulation much easier.

"I believe we must all support the government and the Attorney General's Chambers in taking tougher legal action to prevent the public from falling victim to fake news,” she added. - BERNAMA