KULAI: Social media users have been advised to verify online donation appeals as scammers increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) to fabricate distressing visuals and conduct fake fundraising campaigns.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said fraudsters are misusing AI advances to generate emotional content and exploit public sympathy, adding that the ministry has received reports of individuals having their images and names used without permission.
Do not allow irresponsible parties to exploit our soft spot or compassion," she told reporters after a working visit to SJKT Ladang Kulai Besar here on Monday (Nov 2).
According to Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) statistics, 174,099 requests to remove scam-related posts were submitted to social media platforms as of Oct 15 this year, up from 102,113 in 2023.
Platforms removed 170,633 of those posts, marking a compliance rate of roughly 98%.
The advisory follows recent social media posts featuring AI-generated images of distressed individuals paired with payment QR codes.
Teo said MCMC will act on complaints to remove fraudulent material and urged victims of identity misuse to file police reports.
In a separate announcement, Teo stated that RM150,000 from the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA) has been allocated for interactive smartboards across four Tamil primary schools in the Kulai district.
She also inspected an ongoing RM4.3mil construction project for a new three-storey classroom block at SJKT Kulai Besar, scheduled for completion by June next year. – Bernama
