Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has called for greater responsibility from Telegram and WhatsApp to ensure that no criminal misconduct occurs on their platforms.
Bernama reports that Fahmi said according to reports from the Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (D11), WhatsApp has been widely misused for sexual grooming purposes.
Telegram has also faced numerous complaints, including from former and current ministers, regarding threatening messages and scams.
The platform is allegedly being misused for distributing pornography and selling prohibited substances like drugs.
Fahmi emphasised that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is already scrutinising these issues, and appropriate actions will be taken to ensure the safety of the community on social media.
He stressed the importance of the platform operators being more responsible and proactive in addressing any problems highlighted by the authorities.
This includes taking swift action against accounts and channels that violate Malaysian laws.
The minister warned that if the operators fail to ensure their platforms are free from criminal elements, the government will enforce compliance with the country’s laws.
This alarming misuse highlights the need for stricter oversight and proactive measures from the platform operators to prevent such activities.
