Kuala Lumpur: A total of 3,670 pornographic websites were blocked from 2022 until February 15 this year, the Dewan Rakyat was informed today. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil highlighted this development, further noting that during the same period, 1,993 pornographic social media content pieces were removed by platform providers. This action followed requests from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) based on the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi stated that proactive monitoring by MCMC, alongside cooperation with service providers, is being enhanced to ensure that pornographic advertisements on social media are swiftly identified, blocked, and removed. This statement was made in response to Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar) during the Minister's Question Time, who inquired about the ministry's policies and measures to tackle pornographic advertisements on social media, tabloids, and online mass media.
Fahmi emphasized MCMC's commitment to safeguarding the safety and ethics of online media usage, ensuring compliance with Act 588 and other related laws. He also mentioned the existence of a special MCMC team dedicated to recording public complaints and conducting regular monitoring and enforcement actions based on received information.
Furthermore, the minister pointed out that once the Online Safety Act is in effect, social media platform providers will be required to fulfill a Duty of Care to prevent the dissemination of prohibited advertisements and materials. Fahmi stressed the need to license social media platform providers to secure their cooperation in these efforts.
In addition, Fahmi advised all parties, including Members of Parliament, against spreading unverified content, as disseminating defamatory material constitutes a crime. He urged the public to learn from past incidents of misinformation spread, citing a recent case where an individual was arrested for failing to appear in court to face charges for uploading false content concerning the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Conference of Rulers.