Close collaboration with financial institutions and payment services are needed to disrupt transactions involving online gambling, says expert.
PETALING JAYA: While mandatory licensing of social media platforms can help curb cybercrimes, including online gambling, the government should implement mixed approaches to ensuring online safety, said an expert.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Cybersecurity Research Centre director Prof Dr Selvakumar Manickam suggested close collaboration with financial institutions and payment services to disrupt transactions involving online gambling.
He also said that enhancing Domain Name System (DNS) filtering and Internet Protocol (IP) blocking would effectively limit access to gambling sites.
“App stores must diligently vet gambling apps and swiftly remove any that bypass initial checks,” he said.
Prof Selvakumar also stressed the importance of educating the public on identifying and avoiding risky sites and the dangers of using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to circumvent access blocks.
“It’s about constructing a robust, comprehensive defense system rather than relying on a single barrier,” he said.
He said that mandatory social media licensing, which had been effective since January, would increase platforms’ accountability, enabling the government to enforce standards with tangible consequences.
“It legally binds platforms to the content they host, providing a formal channel for authorities to demand action,” said Prof Selvakumar.
“However, the effectiveness of this system hinges on stringent enforcement. Weak oversight will yield little change, making strong regulatory oversight essential.”
Last month, reports indicated that over 5,000 online gambling websites were blocked in cooperation with internet service providers from 2022 to Feb 1, 2025.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil revealed that 5,025 gambling websites and 224,403 gambling-related posts on social media have been removed.
“Of these, 2,906 posts, or 93.14% of the cases, were deleted from Facebook alone, highlighting its role as a major hub for online gambling ads,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 13.
Prof Selvakumar also pointed out that a significant challenge is the rapid adaptability of gambling companies in circumventing regulations.
“The vast amount of content akin to thousands of digital photos and videos per person daily, plus numerous book copies, complicates content filtering,” he said.
“Gambling companies quickly adapt, using subtle tactics that are hard to detect. Additionally, many operate internationally, complicating legal enforcement across jurisdictions.”
To tackle these issues, Prof Selvakumar advocated for platform providers to invest in advanced AI tools to expedite the identification of gambling content.
“They must facilitate user reporting of dubious content and ensure prompt action on these reports,” he urged.
“Social media companies must understand how algorithms may inadvertently amplify harmful content and adjust them to mitigate the spread of gambling materials,” he said, calling for enhanced collaboration between platforms, governments and cybersecurity experts.
“It's a continuous cat-and-mouse game, but social media companies must proactively work with authorities to stay ahead.”
He proposed establishing regular communication channels and creating joint task forces where government officials and platform experts collaborate closely.
“To truly understand the issue, secure and respectful data-sharing practices should be established, always prioritising user privacy,” he suggested.
