Clear, modern coverage of Malaysian news and analysis.
Malaysia's communications regulator has successfully removed 12,353 deepfake posts since January, representing a 94% success rate in content takedowns. The crackdown intensifies as new rules require platforms to label AI-generated content.
Thailand has adopted accelerated legal procedures to block and remove illegal online content as unlawful URLs surge dramatically. The new system aims to reduce processing times from days to hours.
Nations across Asia, Europe, and beyond are enacting laws to restrict social media access for minors, with Malaysia's June legislation joining measures already in force in Australia, Indonesia, and China.
France has become the first European Union country to ban social media for children under 15 following parliamentary approval. The legislation takes effect from September for new accounts and January for existing ones.
Malaysia is hosting the International Regulatory Conference 2026, a two-day summit bringing together global regulators and industry experts to strengthen the nation's digital governance framework and address emerging online safety challenges.
Malaysia faces the delicate challenge of protecting children and ensuring online safety while preserving freedom of expression, with legal experts debating enforcement strategies and platform accountability at the International Regulatory Conference.
The MCMC has recorded a statement from an individual as part of an ongoing investigation into online content raising 3R issues concerning the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, working jointly with police.
Google has capitulated to a US federal court order requiring it to permit competing app stores within its Play Store, abandoning an alternative proposal that would have required users to download marketplaces from outside the platform.
Malaysia's Communications Ministry has removed 457,562 pieces of online gambling content and blocked 1,778 gambling websites between January and May 2025, achieving a 98% success rate on takedown requests through coordinated efforts with the MCMC and enforcement agencies.
The European Commission has accepted X's remedial measures to address transparency breaches and deceptive design practices, marking a significant moment in EU digital regulation as transatlantic tensions over tech oversight intensify.
Google is asking the EU's top court to reject regulators' appeal of a ruling that scrapped a €1.49 billion antitrust fine. The case centres on whether Google unfairly blocked competitors from placing search ads on publisher websites.
Switzerland's competition regulator has opened an investigation into Google's decision to remove a feature that lets Android users choose their default search engine, citing concerns about fair competition and unequal treatment of Swiss consumers.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission will convene the International Regulatory Conference 2026 on July 21–22 at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, bringing together global regulators and industry experts to discuss digital innovation, data privacy, and content governance.
Malaysia has emerged as a regional leader in digital regulation, implementing stringent online safety measures including temporary restrictions on AI tools, mandatory age verification for social media users under 16, and strengthened cybercrime laws—moves mirrored by other Southeast Asian nations.
Malaysia's communications regulator fielded 29 complaints about misinformation, hate speech and fraud during the Johor election, highlighting persistent challenges in managing online content during electoral periods.
The European Commission has formally charged Meta with breaching digital regulations by deploying addictive features on Instagram and Facebook. The company risks fines of up to 6% of annual turnover unless it redesigns autoplay, infinite scroll, and recommendation systems.
Malaysia's anti-corruption and communications watchdogs have deepened their collaboration to tackle harmful online content and strengthen crisis communication management in response to growing digital risks.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed the government is completing an AI Governance Bill designed to work in tandem with Malaysia's existing Cybersecurity Act and data protection legislation, strengthening the nation's regulatory approach to artificial intelligence.
Malaysia's Communications Ministry is reviewing how well social media platforms are following two new online safety codes introduced in June under the Online Safety Act 2025, with officials expecting strong compliance levels.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defended the federal government's allocation system during parliament's second week, clarifying that most states receive more funding than their tax contributions. Meanwhile, lawmakers approved legislation on cybercrime, child protection, and employment insurance.
Malaysia's Parliament convenes for a 16-day sitting focusing on implementing the Online Safety Act 2025, strengthening school safety protocols, and supporting micro-entrepreneurs affected by regional supply chain disruptions stemming from West Asia tensions.
French President Emmanuel Macron and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have jointly demanded tighter controls on digital platforms, warning that unregulated online spaces pose serious risks to children's wellbeing and development.
Sweden's patent and market court has ordered Google to compensate Klarna's price comparison platform PriceRunner with 14.3 billion Swedish crowns ($1.5 billion) for antitrust violations spanning years of illegal search result manipulation.
TikTok has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by a 15-year-old boy claiming the platform damaged his mental health. The agreement precedes anticipated trials against Instagram and Snapchat in California.
TikTok and YouTube have deactivated approximately 4.7 million accounts belonging to children under 16 in Indonesia, according to the communications minister, as new digital safeguard regulations take effect across the archipelago.
Malaysia's forthcoming AI Governance Bill will establish clear accountability mechanisms for individuals and organisations using artificial intelligence, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has confirmed, addressing public concerns over technology-related harms.
European leaders are rallying behind proposals to restrict children's social media use, with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin declaring momentum is building for a continent-wide ban on under-16s accessing platforms.
The UAE has become the first Arab country to impose a social media ban for under-15s, requiring platforms to disable accounts or face blocking. The move mirrors similar restrictions in Australia, Britain, and other nations over mental health and child safety concerns.
Telegram, the encrypted messaging app favoured by activists and journalists, faces mounting legal pressure worldwide. From India's exam fraud ban to France's criminal charges against its founder Pavel Durov, governments are increasingly targeting the platform over crime and national security concerns.
Telegram has petitioned India's courts against a temporary government ban imposed to prevent exam fraud. The move highlights tensions between tech platforms and state controls in the region.
The UK government will ban social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for children under 16, with enforcement targeting platforms rather than young users. The ban is expected to take effect in early 2025.
Florida's attorney general has sued TikTok, alleging the platform breaches state legislation designed to protect children under 14 from opening accounts and exposure to harmful content.