Malaysia Removes Nearly 160,000 Harmful Online Posts, Strengthens Digital Governance

Malaysia’s government has announced the removal of nearly 160,000 harmful posts from major social media platforms, part of a nationwide initiative to improve online safety. The takedowns, which were flagged for violating safety standards, were carried out by Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil revealed the updates during a recent Ministry of Communications monthly assembly, stating that these efforts are part of a larger crackdown on digital harm.

As of June 2025, 159,518 posts were removed, with the majority of these involving online gambling—which accounted for 51% of all takedowns. The next most common categories were scams (25%), cyberbullying (12%), and fake news (9%). The removals stemmed from 174,473 takedown requests issued so far this year. Facebook led the removals with 57% of flagged content, followed by TikTok (28%) and YouTube (13%). Collectively, these three platforms made up 95% of the harmful content identified.

Minister Fahmi also expressed concern over the ongoing presence of child exploitation content, especially on Facebook. He raised questions about the sufficiency of current laws and suggested that more strategic measures may be necessary. He referenced last year’s operation, Op Pedo Bersepadu, a joint effort by the Royal Malaysia Police and MCMC, aimed at tackling child exploitation online. The continued removal of harmful content highlights Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to addressing digital threats like child exploitation and illegal gambling syndicates.

As part of its ongoing efforts to regulate digital content, Malaysia recently passed the Online Safety Act (OnSA) 2024, which grants MCMC greater enforcement powers. The OnSA has received royal assent and will soon be enforced. The Act mandates that platforms failing to address harmful content may face regulatory consequences, marking a shift toward stricter digital governance in the country. The OnSA also aligns with earlier regulatory efforts, such as the new licensing framework introduced earlier this year, aimed at making platforms safer for children and other vulnerable groups.

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With these new laws and continued enforcement efforts, Malaysia is taking significant steps to ensure that online platforms operate in compliance with safety standards. The country’s approach, including the enforcement of the Online Safety Act, is designed to hold social media platforms accountable for the content they host. The government’s focus on online gambling content, scams, and child exploitation reflects its commitment to providing a safer digital environment for all.

Source:

, freemalaysiatoday.com, June 12, 2025