Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching clarified that not all online content removed from platforms like TikTok in Malaysia is based on requests from the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) or the government.
Instead, platform providers evaluate content removal based on reports of abuse by users or authorities.
Teo said that while it’s true that the Government Takedown Request Report indicates that TikTok received 1,862 requests from the government, but the total number of applications for content removal was 6,231, meaning not all requests were government-initiated, according to Bernama.
The report also revealed that 2,514 contents were taken down for violating community guidelines, 2,970 for violating local laws, and 747 were not acted upon by TikTok.
If a platform doesn’t perceive content as violating guidelines or laws, it won’t remove it. Users whose content is taken down can directly contact the relevant platform provider for justification, says Teo.
Teo highlighted the unfairness of assuming that all posted content is critical of the government, given that online fraud rose by 95.2% from 2019 to 2023, and online gambling surged by 273% from 2019 to 2022.
While accusations of media freedom restrictions arise, the report stated the government aims to protect internet users while maintaining a balance between expression and societal protection.
Recently, the government and MCMC were also accused of removing former minister Khairy Jamaluddin TikTok’s posts regarding privatisation deal involving Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) and US-based investment firm BlackRock.
The government is also planning to regulate and license the social media platforms, but human rights lawyers criticised the move, saying it is trying to stifle online criticism of the administration.
