What content concerns has Malaysia raised with Telegram?

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Malaysia has raised concerns regarding scams, pornography, and illegal drug sales on Telegram.

Malaysia has expressed significant concerns about the proliferation of scams, pornography, and illegal drug sales on the Telegram messaging platform. These issues have led to numerous complaints, prompting the Communications and Digital Ministry to seek engagement with Telegram. The ministry has made multiple requests for a meeting since January 2023 to address these matters.
Concerns Over Scams on the Platform

The Malaysian government has highlighted the prevalence of scam activities facilitated through Telegram. These concerns are compounded by instances of impersonation, affecting both brands and public figures, as noted in the context of other platforms like Meta. The lack of robust moderation and a local presence on many platforms contributes to the difficulty in swiftly addressing such fraudulent content.
Issues Related to Pornography and Illegal Drug Sales

Beyond financial scams, Telegram has also been a focal point for concerns regarding the distribution of pornography and the sale of illegal drugs. These types of content pose significant societal risks and have been a recurring theme in complaints received by the Malaysian authorities. The government views these issues as serious violations that require platform accountability.
Telegram's Stance on Cooperation and Moderation

A spokesperson for Telegram stated that the platform refuses to cooperate with the Communications and Digital Ministry on the grounds of avoiding "any form of political censorship." However, Telegram asserts that it actively moderates harmful content, including illegal substances and public pornography. They claim to monitor public areas of the app and utilise user reports submitted through the app or via email to abuse@telegram.org to remove content that breaches their terms of service.
Challenges in Regulation and Potential Interventions

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been tasked with exploring appropriate decisions to tackle inappropriate and scam content. However, the MCMC faces limitations due to current policies being ineffective against platforms hosted overseas. This situation has led to calls for reviewing the self-regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) applications and social media platforms, as self-regulation has proven insufficient in aligning with Malaysia's laws and national interests.

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What content concerns has Malaysia raised with Telegram?

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