A total of 3,670 pornographic websites were blocked from 2022 until Feb 15, 2025, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Additionally, during the same period, 1,993 pieces of pornographic content on social media were removed by platform providers following requests from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).
Stricter monitoring and enforcement
Fahmi emphasized that MCMC has intensified its proactive monitoring and is working closely with service providers to swiftly identify, block, and remove pornographic advertisements on social media.
He was responding to Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar), who questioned the ministry’s policies and measures to tackle pornographic advertisements across social media, tabloids, and online platforms during Minister’s Question Time.
However, yesterday, when I was wrapping up responses to the questions raised, I mentioned that as users, when we visit websites or use social media, most of the advertisements shown to us are based on algorithms.
For example, if we like cats, we will see a lot of cat-related content and pet-related advertisements.
MCMC, he assured, is committed to ensuring online media safety and ethics in accordance with Act 588 and other relevant laws
A special team has been assigned to record public complaints while also conducting regular monitoring and enforcement based on received information.
Duty of social media platforms
Fahmi also highlighted that once the Online Safety Act comes into effect, social media platforms will be required to exercise a Duty of Care in preventing the spread of prohibited advertisements and materials.
Regarding the provisions of the Online Safety Act, we will emphasize to social media platforms, for example, that they also have a responsibility—or, if you will, a Duty of Care—to avoid displaying ads and materials that do not meet the required standards.
This is one of the reasons why we need to license social media platforms to secure their cooperation,” he added.
Fahmi further reminded all parties, including Members of Parliament, to avoid spreading unverified content, as sharing defamatory material is also a crime.
He pointed to a recent incident where an individual was arrested late last night after failing to appear in court to face charges for uploading false content involving the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Conference of Rulers.
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The minister urged the public to learn from past incidents and be cautious about spreading misinformation online.
