Malaysia takes a stand against social media giants over content censorship claims

Malaysia’s communications regulator will warn social media giants TikTok and Meta, alleging they have blocked pro-Palestinian content on their platforms. The country’s communications minister, Fahmi Fadzil, has emphasized the importance of preserving freedom of speech concerning the Palestinian cause and warned of potential strong action if the issue is not addressed.

He mentioned that various parties have urged the government to take action against social media platforms for limiting pro-Palestinian content. This development follows earlier concerns expressed by Fahmi regarding TikTok’s compliance with Malaysian laws and its handling of defamatory or misleading content.

Why does it matter?

The Israel-Hamas conflict has brought ongoing concerns about how tech giants like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok handle their platforms during heightened tension. Jillian York, director for international freedom of expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, pointed out long-standing issues, including inconsistent standards across regions and a lack of local expertise, particularly in the Global South. This problem extends beyond Malaysia. Just yesterday, the deadline passed for Meta and TikTok to provide information to the European Commission about their efforts to combat the dissemination of illegal content and disinformation on their platforms in the aftermath of the Hamas attack in Israel and the ensuing conflict.