Now that we’re past the six-month mark for the year, it’s a good time to recap some of the biggest tech stories so far.
On Jan 11, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) slapped a temporary ban on access to Grok, the AI-powered chatbot on X (formerly Twitter). This was due to Grok repeatedly being used to generate sexually explicit content or deepfakes involving women and minors on the platform.
MCMC said it had issued a notice to X Corp and xAI LLC on Jan 3 and 8, demanding the implementation of effective technical safeguards to prevent its AI chatbot from generating content that goes against local laws.
“However, the responses submitted on Jan 7 and 9 by X Corp relied primarily on user-initiated reporting mechanisms and failed to address the inherent risks posed by the design and operation of the AI tool,” it said in a statement.
Due to the insufficient measure, MCMC said a restriction was imposed as a “preventive and proportionate” measure amid ongoing legal and regulatory processes.
Apart from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines also blocked access to Grok due to similar concerns. In a Jan 16 report, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said access would be restored once X successfully demonstrated that it can prevent the production of harmful materials.
It was later announced on Jan 23 that MCMC had lifted the temporary restriction on Grok after receiving confirmation that X had implemented additional preventive and security measures.
The temporary restriction on Grok also reflects Malaysia’s broader push to make online platforms safer for users.
In June, Malaysia announced the enforcement of the Child Protection Code (CPC) and Risk Mitigation Code under the Online Safety Act, where social media platforms are now required to adopt child safety measures and strengthen age-appropriate protections.
“They must ensure that only users aged 16 and above can register new accounts and access age-restricted features, with ages verified using government-issued documents or recognised international equivalents,” MCMC said in a statement on June 1.
It added that licensed social media platforms or providers will progressively roll out age verification measures for existing users during a period of up to six months. These platforms are Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok and Telegram.
Users under 16 will have one month to save content such as videos or photos before platforms begin to restrict or suspend access.
Fahmi described the initiative as ‘Tunggu 16’ during a Dewan Rakyat session on June 24, saying it was introduced to better protect children and families from online harm. He added that licensed service providers that fail to comply with the CPC code could face regulatory action, including enforcement measures and financial penalties.
This move also follows a global trend of governments introducing stricter measures to improve online safety for children and hold digital platforms more accountable for harmful content.
Australia became the first country to ban social media for under-16 users last year while Britain plans to approve a ban in December. It has announced that the move is backed by nine out of 10 parents with protections or additional restrictions expected to come into effect next year.
Additionally, Dewan Rakyat passed the Cybercrime Bill 2026 on July 1, paving the way for Malaysia to strengthen its legal framework against emerging forms of online crime. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the legislation addresses gaps in existing laws, enabling authorities to better tackle issues such as AI-generated deepfakes and the non-consensual distribution of intimate content.
The Bill makes it an offence under Section 24 of Part VI to share, distribute, publish, sell or make available another person’s intimate images through a computer system without lawful justification. Those found guilty could face up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM300,000, or both.
While policymakers focused on strengthening online safety and cybersecurity, consumers had to contend with rising costs of both gadgets and digital services.
One of the biggest developments was the global RAM crunch caused by suppliers moving memory chips towards building AI infrastructure and hyperscale data centres. The National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) told StarLifestyle in March that consumers will feel the impact through “higher device prices or adjustments in memory and storage configurations”, adding that industry forecasts suggest pricing pressures will likely continue till 2027.
Retailers also told StarLifestyle that some memory components have doubled in prices compared to last year. Pikom has advised consumers to consider future-proof specifications when purchasing a new device.
In May, Sony announced a price hike due to “continued pressures in the global economic landscape” for the PlayStation 5 console, now starting at RM2,499 instead of RM2,069. Nintendo has also announced global price increases for its Switch 2 console and Nintendo Switch Online membership, which will take effect in September.
Last month, Apple increased the prices of its MacBook, iPad and Apple TV streaming device.
“We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly. We have shielded our customers from these increases so far, but we have now reached a point where we need to begin raising prices on a number of products, including today’s increases for iPad and Mac,” the company said in a statement.
