Paid content with elements of gambling and fraud

platform providers are asked to tighten screening

KULAI: Content with gambling and fraudulent elements promoted through paid means or sponsored posts is causing concern when it is widely detected on social media platforms.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said most of the content complained to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was identified as being in the form of advertisements by certain parties who paid digital platforms to ensure the content reached more users.

Teo said that although the platforms involved agreed to take down the content after a complaint was made, such action was usually only taken after the content had been displayed and reached users.

“The main issue at the moment is the matter of initial screening. Why is content like this not filtered more effectively before being broadcast and promoted, thus indirectly helping fraudulent and online gambling activities,” he said.

Teo said this to reporters after attending the Next Gen Luxury Coach Handover Ceremony in Senai today.

He said that in the first 15 days of this year, MCMC took down 15,519 pieces of content related to online gambling and 5,241 pieces of content containing fraudulent elements, some of which were paid content.

In this regard, Teo said MCMC would use provisions under the Online Safety Act to ensure that platform providers classified as licensees carry out their responsibilities more effectively, particularly in the content assessment and approval process.

He said the move was aimed at ensuring that dangerous content could be taken down more quickly and preventing it from being posted in the first place.

Teo said MCMC would continue to work closely with the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) in addressing online gambling and fraud issues, as well as encouraging the public to channel complaints through MCMC’s official channels.

“We want to ensure that platforms are also held accountable and do not allow this clearly harmful content to exist in their digital space,” he said.

-Agency