KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has identified 47,412 cyberbullying-related posts and requested their removal since the beginning of the year, says Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said TikTok accounted for 81% of the content flagged, followed by Facebook at 12% as of Oct 27.
“The cyberbullying content identified by MCMC since the beginning of the year was based on public complaints,” he told reporters after officiating at the Pelajar Pemacu Negara – Sayangi Diri, Jauhi Dadah dan Hargai Kehidupan programme here.
Fahmi said MCMC was also examining the misuse of messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram, particularly their end-to-end encryption features, which allow private groups to operate outside public view.
“I am concerned that certain communication platforms, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, use end-to-end encryption, allowing groups to be created without public knowledge.
“These are private rather than public groups, and bullying sometimes begins or spreads within them. This is among the issues MCMC is examining,” he said, Bernama reported.
Fahmi said the review also covered the misuse of messaging platforms to sell prohibited goods, including drugs.
He said the matter required scrutiny in relation to the Online Safety Act (ONSA), although private messaging services were not currently covered by the legislation.
“The review of private communication platforms is ongoing, and no measures have been implemented at this stage. Although these platforms fall outside the scope of ONSA, we will continue examining their impact,” he said.
Fahmi added that concerns raised during discussions with the police, together with public complaints about the harmful effects of these platforms, underscored the need for closer scrutiny.
