30/05/2023 (Malaysia) - The Malaysian government has expressed concerns over Telegram's refusal to cooperate with their requests, despite multiple attempts to initiate discussions since January 2023. The Communications and Digital Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, has highlighted numerous complaints about scams, pornography, and illegal drug sales on the popular messaging platform.
A spokesperson for Telegram, Remi Vaughn, stated that the platform declines to collaborate with Fahmi's ministry due to their opposition to "any form of political censorship." However, Vaughn emphasized that Telegram actively moderates harmful content, including the removal of illegal substances and public pornography. The platform's dedicated moderators proactively monitor the app's public sections and promptly address user reports received through the app or via email at abuse@telegram.org.
In response to Telegram's uncooperative stance, Fahmi has instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to explore suitable measures to tackle inappropriate and fraudulent content. However, the MCMC faces challenges in taking action against platforms hosted overseas, as the current policies lack effectiveness.
The MCMC has called for intervention, highlighting the need to review the self-regulatory framework. They argue that many over-the-top (OTT) applications and social media platforms have failed to adequately self-regulate their platforms in compliance with Malaysia's laws and national interests. Meta's promises of effective algorithms to combat scams have proven inadequate, with instances of scam ads impersonating brands and public figures on Facebook and Meta. Even Fahmi himself has experienced impersonation on Meta's platform.
The delayed response from social media platforms in dealing with scam and inappropriate content is often due to the absence of local monitoring teams to handle user reports. To address this issue, it is suggested that platforms generating significant revenue from online advertising be obligated to establish local moderation teams and conduct basic checks on new advertisers.
Countries like Indonesia have already implemented regulations requiring digital platforms, both international and local, to adhere to stricter standards in combating harmful content. In Indonesia, digital platforms must register as Electronic Systems Providers (PSE) and promptly comply with takedown requests within specific timeframes. Unregistered platforms face bans, although major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, TikTok, and Telegram managed to avoid this by registering with the government.
In a notable incident from 2017, the Malaysian government temporarily blocked the software platform Steam for initially refusing to comply with the MCMC's request to remove a video game called Fight of Gods. However, Steam eventually complied with the government's request, leading to the ban being lifted.
The Malaysian government's concerns regarding Telegram's lack of cooperation reflect the need for effective measures to tackle inappropriate content. Addressing the limitations faced by the MCMC and reviewing self-regulatory frameworks can pave the way for a safer online environment. Drawing inspiration from other countries' regulatory approaches can also provide valuable insights into combating harmful content effectively.