How does Malaysia engage with social media firms on disinformation?

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Malaysia Engages Social Media Firms Through Consistent Dialogue and Proactive Measures

Malaysia's Ministry of Communications and Digital prioritises a strategy of consistent and proactive engagement with social media companies to address issues like disinformation and misinformation, rather than pursuing legislative measures akin to Australia's. This approach involves direct dialogue and collaboration to tackle problematic content, including scams and criminal violations. The ministry has previously held discussions with major platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, Meta, and Telegram, with the aim of fostering cooperation and accountability.
Consistent Engagement Over Legislation

The Malaysian government, through its Ministry of Communications and Digital, has opted for a policy of sustained and proactive engagement with social media companies. This approach is intended to hold these platforms accountable for the dissemination of disinformation and misinformation. Unlike Australia, which has drafted laws to impose fines on social media firms for fake news, Malaysia is currently not pursuing a similar legislative path.
Previous Meetings with Major Platforms

To implement its engagement strategy, the ministry has engaged in prior meetings with several prominent social media companies. These discussions have included platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Meta. Most recently, a meeting was held with Telegram to address ongoing concerns.
Addressing Specific Complaints with Meta

A recent instance highlighting this engagement involved a scheduled meeting with Meta, the parent company of Facebook. This meeting was prompted by a complaint lodged by Bursa Malaysia Bhd. The complaint concerned the misrepresentation of Bursa Malaysia's CEO, Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, on Facebook pages.
Bursa Malaysia's Complaint and Call for Action

Bursa Malaysia Bhd had identified several Facebook pages that were misrepresenting its CEO. Following this identification, the company lodged a formal complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. This complaint specifically requested that the commission engage with Meta regarding the platform's perceived failure to remove questionable content, such as fraudulent advertisements.
Tackling Scams and Criminal Violations

The ministry expresses its hope that this established process of engagement and cooperation with social media platforms will effectively address a range of issues. These include tackling online scammers, preventing criminal violations, and managing other problematic content that may appear on these platforms. The focus remains on collaborative problem-solving rather than punitive legal action.

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How does Malaysia engage with social media firms on disinformation?

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