Malaysia experienced a dramatic rise in restricted online content, as revealed by Meta’s Transparency Center. The numbers are staggering, with a significant increase in just one year—from 536 restricted items in 2022 to a whopping 8,580 in 2023.
Key Statistics:
- 2022 Trends:
- First half of 2022: 66 items declared restricted.
- Following six months: 470 additional restricted items.
- 2023 Trends:
- First half of 2023: 3,100 restricted items.
- July to December 2023: An additional 5,480 restricted items.
- Social Media Platforms:
- Facebook reported 3,250 restricted posts, 1,900 comments, 1,832 pages and groups, two albums, and 690 profiles in Malaysia during 2023.
- Instagram saw 660 accounts and 282 media items declared restricted during the same period.
- Content Categories:
- Meta’s change log update for July to December 2023 identified 4,700 restricted items. These included:
- Illegal gambling content.
- Scams.
- Posts related to regulated goods.
- Offensive comments related to race, religion, and royalty (3R).
- Instances of cyberbullying.
- Meta’s change log update for July to December 2023 identified 4,700 restricted items. These included:
Meta says they have has restricted access in Malaysia to over 4,700 items reported by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Is government censorship on the rise?
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching refuted claims that the Malaysian government directs social media platforms to remove critical content. She clarified that the MCMC merely forwards complaints to platforms that independently decide on content removal depending on their policies and procedures.
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman previously raised concerns about rising censorship and criticised the government for allegedly suppressing criticism.
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman previously raised concerns about rising censorship and criticised the government for allegedly suppressing criticism.
