The Communications Ministry, in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and various other agencies, will convene a meeting with Meta Platforms (the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram) on Monday, 8 April, to address concerns regarding online safety.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that the meeting will address issues such as the misuse of Meta platforms, particularly Facebook, for the dissemination of misinformation and distortion of facts, according to Bernama.
He noted that his ministry has observed orchestrated messaging campaigns on Facebook, making baseless allegations such as claiming that this year’s national-level Quran recital competition is cancelled.
Fahmi instructed the MCMC to investigate and identify the individuals involved in these manipulative operations, emphasising the ease with which factual information can be verified through simple online searches.
Additionally, Fahmi mentioned that the meeting will also discuss the issue of underage children, below 13 years old, creating social media accounts on certain platforms.
He highlighted the lack of stringent mechanisms on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, and TikTok to prevent underage users from accessing their services.
Fahmi emphasised that if Meta Platforms refuses to cooperate, the ministry will take appropriate measures against both the platform provider and any collaborating parties.
