KUALA LUMPUR: Only platform providers can block or remove social media content and accounts, not the government, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
"When content is taken down or an account is blocked, it means the platform acknowledges and complies with existing laws and believes that the content has breached these laws," he said at a press conference after launching the Nadi Aspirasi Nasional Bersama Anak Muda (Nanba) programme here on Saturday (June 28).
Also present at the event were Community Communications Department (J-Kom) director-general Datuk Ismail Yusop and Batu MP P. Prabakaran, who is also chairman of the Special Task Force Committee for the Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra).
Earlier, Fahmi said 173,642 pieces of content had been taken down by social media platform providers from Jan 1 until June 28 this year.
Fahmi, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, said 51% (more than 90,000 posts) involved online gambling, over 43,000 were scam-related and the remainder were linked to other criminal activities.
He said Facebook had the highest number of online gambling and scam advertisements, followed by TikTok.
He also said Telegram was the weakest in managing scam-related issues.
"Of the content requested for removal on Telegram, half were scams – but the platform did not take down all of them. So we need to be firm with these platforms.
"Telegram representatives will be in Kuala Lumpur this week to continue discussions with MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission), covering, among others, scams, online gambling, child sexual abuse material, prostitution content and copyrighted films or TV episodes previously accessible via various Telegram channels," he said.
However, Fahmi noted that Telegram operates with limited human resources – around 50 personnel – despite having more than one billion user accounts worldwide.
He also said the Nanba programme (inspired by the Tamil word for 'friend') is a strategic J-Kom initiative that reflects the Madani government's commitment to strengthening ties with the Indian community, particularly youth, while expanding the inclusive and effective delivery of government information.
The programme also serves as an effective two-way communication platform to enhance public access to information related to policies, initiatives and various opportunities offered by the government, in addition to showcasing ongoing efforts to deliver services and information directly to the people. – Bernama
