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Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Telegram ignored over half of Malaysia's takedown requests, says Fahmi
Fahmi says Telegram has shown the lowest compliance rate among all major social media platforms in Malaysia, acting on fewer than half of MCMC's takedown requests. – The Borneo Post photo KUALA LUMPUR (June 28): Malaysian authorities are escalating pressure on Telegram after accusing the messaging platform of routinely ignoring requests to take down harmful content — a move that has led to a rare civil suit and threats of stricter regulation. In a Free Malaysia Today report, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Telegram has shown the lowest compliance rate among all major social media platforms in Malaysia, acting on fewer than half of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) takedown requests. 'I have ordered MCMC to call Telegram for a meeting next week to discuss the issue,' Fahmi told reporters today after an event in Pantai Dalam. The remarks come days after MCMC filed a civil lawsuit against Telegram and two of its prominent channels — Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas — for allegedly disseminating content that could erode trust in public institutions and threaten social order. The regulator said the two channels had published material in breach of Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and that this was the first time legal action had been taken against a social media platform with a local licence. Telegram is registered as an application service provider (class) in Malaysia. 'The move follows Telegram's serious failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported to it, despite multiple negotiation and cooperation efforts by MCMC,' the commission said in a statement. Fahmi added that MCMC had flagged over 1.18 million pieces of harmful content across platforms as of June 24 this year. Only 173,642 of those were removed. 'Of this number, 51 per cent of the content removed were online gambling ads, while 24 per cent were online scams,' he said. 'We will take strict action to ensure Malaysians do not become victims of cybercrime.' While MCMC has no power to directly remove content itself, it can issue requests and expects platform providers to comply. Fahmi stressed that the platforms ultimately bear the responsibility for restricting access to such material in Malaysia. – Malay Mail fahmi fadzil harmful content take down request telegram
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Telegram acted on less than half of takedown requests
KUALA LUMPUR: Telegram has the lowest compliance rate among major social media platforms in Malaysia, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said that the platform acted on fewer than half of the takedown requests submitted by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). "Telegram has acted on less than 50 per cent of the takedown requests we submitted. "Among all platforms, they have shown the lowest level of cooperation with the Malaysian government," he said at a press conference after attending the Nadi Aspirasi Nasional Bersama Anak Muda (Nanba) Programme at IWK Eco Park here. He said this days after MCMC filed a civil lawsuit against Telegram and two of its high-profile channels, Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas, over content allegedly published in breach of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. The regulator said the material disseminated on the two channels could undermine trust in public institutions and threaten social order. MCMC described the lawsuit as a landmark move, marking the first time legal action has been taken against a social media platform with a local licence. Telegram is currently registered as an application service provider (class) in Malaysia. "The move follows Telegram's serious failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported to it, despite multiple negotiation and cooperation efforts by MCMC," the commission said in a statement. Fahmi said the platform's lack of responsiveness is particularly concerning as it is increasingly used to spread illicit content such as online gambling ads and pirated films or TV shows. He added Telegram representatives are expected to meet with MCMC in Kuala Lumpur this week to resume discussions on compliance and enforcement. "Telegram operates with a small global team estimated at around 50 employees, despite having roughly one billion users. "They rely heavily on automation and AI for moderation, but differences in legal frameworks between countries cannot justify ignoring Malaysian regulations," he said. Between Jan 1 and June 26 this year, MCMC received 188,528 complaints involving various digital platforms, of which 173,642 resulted in content takedowns. Online gambling made up the largest portion, followed by scams, bullying and harassment, and obscene content involving children.
Daily Express
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Telegram ignored over half of Malaysia's takedown requests, says communications minister
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 By: Malay Mail Text Size: Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Telegram has shown the lowest compliance rate among all major social media platforms in Malaysia, acting on fewer than half of MCMC's takedown requests. — Bernama pic Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian authorities are escalating pressure on Telegram after accusing the messaging platform of routinely ignoring requests to take down harmful content — a move that has led to a rare civil suit and threats of stricter regulation. In a Free Malaysia Today report, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Telegram has shown the lowest compliance rate among all major social media platforms in Malaysia, acting on fewer than half of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) takedown requests. 'I have ordered MCMC to call Telegram for a meeting next week to discuss the issue,' Fahmi told reporters today after an event in Pantai Dalam. The remarks come days after MCMC filed a civil lawsuit against Telegram and two of its prominent channels — Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas — for allegedly disseminating content that could erode trust in public institutions and threaten social order. The regulator said the two channels had published material in breach of Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and that this was the first time legal action had been taken against a social media platform with a local licence. Telegram is registered as an application service provider (class) in Malaysia. 'The move follows Telegram's serious failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported to it, despite multiple negotiation and cooperation efforts by MCMC,' the commission said in a statement. Fahmi added that MCMC had flagged over 1.18 million pieces of harmful content across platforms as of June 24 this year. Only 173,642 of those were removed. 'Of this number, 51 per cent of the content removed were online gambling ads, while 24 per cent were online scams,' he said. 'We will take strict action to ensure Malaysians do not become victims of cybercrime.' While MCMC has no power to directly remove content itself, it can issue requests and expects platform providers to comply. Fahmi stressed that the platforms ultimately bear the responsibility for restricting access to such material in Malaysia. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
11 hours ago
- Daily Express
Sabah Information Department staff reminded on news values
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 Text Size: Jainisah (seated front left) with Diana (seated right) and course participants. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Information Department (Japen) staff are urged to consistently uphold ethical standards and act responsibly in disseminating information. Its Director Jainisah Mohd Noor said every member must ensure that any information shared with the public is accurate, ethical and does not touch on racial, religious or royal institution sensitivities, in line with efforts to maintain national harmony and unity. 'In today's increasingly challenging communication landscape, mastery of mobile journalism (Mojo) must be balanced with a deep understanding of ethical standards and relevant laws. 'Mojo is now a trend and anyone can become a news sharer, whether through short videos, photos or social media posts. 'However, not everyone understands the great responsibility that comes with this convenience. We must not chase virality at the expense of truth and accountability,' she said when officiating the Basic Journalism Ethics in Mobile Journalism (Mojo) course closing ceremony at the Communication Ministry's Integrated Complex here Tuesday. The one-day course, organised by Japen Sabah's Media and Corporate Communication Division (MKK), involved 30 participants. It focused on producing news, media statements and quality images, while strengthening values such as integrity, social sensitivity and legal awareness – particularly regarding key laws such as the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Sedition Act 1948, Defamation Act 1957, Official Secrets Act 1972 and the Child Act 2001. Jainisah said although technologies such as smartphones and artificial intelligence (AI) applications offer extraordinary ease in producing media content, they also carry the risk of misuse if not accompanied by self-regulation and legal awareness. 'As civil servants, we cannot recklessly disseminate information, especially on sensitive issues. 'One misstep could lead to serious legal consequences, including life imprisonment under the Official Secrets Act 1972,' she stressed. She also reminded participants to comply with the provisions of the Child Act 2001 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Malaysia has ratified since 1995. Jainisah encouraged her team to use social media positively, turning digital platforms into channels for spreading good values and strengthening unity among Sabah's multi-ethnic communities in particular, and across Malaysia more broadly. Also present were Japen Sabah's MKK Division Senior Assistant Director Dr Diana Dominic and Siti Mariam Datuk Aziz, Senior Assistant Director of the Protocol Division. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Ensuring benefits for the rakyat with responsible use of mobile phone data
RECENT discussions surrounding the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) Mobile Phone Data Programme have stirred public debate, raising questions over privacy, cybersecurity and the government's role in data stewardship. As someone deeply involved in nation building in the areas of network infrastructure and cybersecurity, I feel it is crucial to bring technical clarity to the Malaysian public regarding this issue and separating speculation from substantiated fact. Understanding the nature of the data First and foremost, the data collected under the Mobile Phone Data Programme is aggregated, anonymised and devoid of any personally identifiable information (PII). The data only provides generalised metadata such as signal strength, network usage trends, location area codes and other non-personal metrics that can help our regulator assess mobile network performance, digital divide issues and emergency response readiness. To equate this programme with intrusive surveillance is technically inaccurate and misleading. The data points collected are no different, if not significantly less granular, than the metadata routinely collected by global platforms like Google, Apple, Meta and numerous other mobile apps for analytics, service optimisation and targeted advertising. Legal and ethical boundaries are intact The Malaysian regulator, MCMC, in line with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Personal Data Protection Act 2010, operates within strict regulatory boundaries. This particular programme does not collect names, phone numbers, call logs, browsing history, or message contents. Generally, the participating Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are very cautious on sharing their data yet, they have had no issues in working closely with MCMC on this project. Furthermore, access to the metadata is limited to selected analytical tools within the Commission, with no commercial or third-party exposure. This makes the dataset fundamentally different from the kind of data typically vulnerable to misuse or monetisation in commercial tech ecosystems. Strategic importance in a digital nation From a technical and policy standpoint, the Mobile Phone Data Programme is strategically very important for national digital infrastructure planning. With Malaysia advancing toward wider 5G deployments and smart city initiatives, regulators require real-time, evidence-based insights into mobile coverage, device density and population mobility to guide resource allocation, spectrum planning, and emergency readiness. For instance, during natural disasters or public health crises, such data can significantly improve our authorities' responses, enabling faster and more targeted assistance being provided to the needy. Several advanced economies, including South Korea, Finland and Estonia, have long adopted similar anonymised data programmes providing effective public benefits and without any complains about infringing on personal privacy. Addressing the misinformation ecosystem It is unfortunate that a narrative of distrust has taken root, largely fuelled by misinformation and a poor understanding of network-level data analytics. In the absence of context, the public is led to fear a 'surveillance state,' even when the technical facts clearly indicate that no such risk exists. MCMC's proactive move to engage cybersecurity experts, telcos and the public through open communication is the correct path forward. Transparency, ongoing stakeholder dialogue and third-party audits should be encouraged, not to defend against wrongdoing, but to reinforce trust in a system that is technically sound and ethically implemented. Final thoughts The integrity of our digital ecosystem must be safeguarded, not only from cyber threats but from disinformation that can undermine our national progress. The Mobile Phone Data Program is not a breach of privacy but instead, an important tool for digital nation-building, designed with checks and balances that preserves user anonymity and protects public trust. Let us not conflate good governance with intrusion, or precaution with paranoia. This part of Malaysia's digital journey uses the carefully redacted data to ensure better mobile coverage and connectivity, amongst other things, to bring better comfort and telco services to the Malaysian public. Prof Emeritus Dr Sureswaran Ramadass APAC IPv6 council chairman and Cybersecurity subject matter expert
