Clear, modern coverage of Malaysian news and analysis.
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.
Authorities in Kuala Lumpur have arrested four teenage boys, all aged 14, in connection with a violent assault that injured another youth and triggered widespread social media backlash.
An independent candidate running for the Sri Tanjung seat in Negri Sembilan is set to appear in court next month over a social media posting, raising questions about digital speech during electoral campaigns.
A 52-year-old Malaysian man has been remanded for two days to assist police investigations into allegations that he made insulting remarks targeting the Negri Sembilan royal institution through social media channels.
Negeri Sembilan police have arrested a man for allegedly publishing a social media post insulting the state's royal family. His mobile phone was seized as evidence during the operation.
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.
Facebook experienced a significant worldwide outage on July 19, affecting users across Malaysia and internationally. Desktop access was severely restricted while mobile applications continued functioning normally during the afternoon disruption.
Andrew and Tristan Tate, controversial social media figures, have been arrested in Miami by US Marshals following fresh rape and sex-trafficking charges filed by British prosecutors.
YouTube has appealed a California court verdict that held it and Meta liable for a young woman's social media addiction and mental health problems, seeking to overturn a USD 3 million damages award.
The Malaysian Army has challenged viral allegations of rape involving one of its personnel, stating that its internal investigation produced findings inconsistent with claims circulating on social media.
The Malaysian Army says its investigation found allegations against a member circulating on social media contradict actual facts. The military has filed reports with communications authorities and criticises 'trial by viral' culture.
Australia's online regulator has sounded alarm over a surge in sexual extortion targeting young men and boys on social media, revealing thousands of complaints and accusing tech companies of failing to combat the crime adequately.
Meta is appealing a landmark Los Angeles verdict that found the company deliberately designed Instagram and Facebook to addict young users. The jury awarded the plaintiff US$3 million in damages, with another US$3 million recommended in punitive damages.
Police in Perlis have detained an internet personality on suspicion of sexually assaulting and photographing a teenage girl at a rental residence in Kangar. The arrest marks another troubling incident involving online content creators and child safety.
Chinese authorities detained a 23-year-old man after he illegally parachuted from a residential building in Sichuan province to boost his social media profile. The stunt endangered public safety and prompted police warnings about extreme online behaviour.
The European Commission has launched formal proceedings against Meta over allegedly addictive design features in Instagram and Facebook, potentially leading to fines exceeding €12 billion. The action reflects growing regulatory pressure on social media platforms across multiple jurisdictions.
Malaysia's Election Commission will intensify its review of voters publicly sharing photographs of their marked ballot papers on social media platforms, citing concerns about the practice and its implications for election integrity.
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.
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Malaysia's Department of Environment has publicly denied creating or endorsing a viral infographic ranking state cleanliness levels, warning the public against treating unverified content as official government data.
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Malaysia's Social Welfare Department has called on the public to stop publishing content that reveals children's identities on digital platforms, warning of legal consequences and lasting harm to young people's wellbeing.
Malaysia's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has urged social media platforms to strengthen enforcement against false information during the 16th Johor state election, particularly on polling day.
Malaysian police are calling on the public to refrain from resharing an old dispute concerning allegations that the dawn azan disrupted sleep in Sungai Buloh, which has recently gained renewed attention on social media platforms.
India has directed Meta Platforms to immediately remove all child sexual abuse material and related advertisements from Instagram and Facebook. The order follows a BBC investigation exposing abuse content in Indian Instagram ads, adding to mounting regulatory pressure on the US tech company across multiple fronts.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has dismissed claims that an individual appearing in a viral social media post is part of its workforce, distancing itself from the controversy.
Police have initiated an investigation into a video circulating online depicting a schoolboy being attacked by multiple individuals in Tawau, Sabah, following a formal complaint filed by the victim.
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.
TikTok has settled a lawsuit brought by a Florida teenager alleging social media caused mental health damage. The case is part of a wave of American litigation targeting platforms over their effects on young users.
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.
FIFA's digital monitoring service identified 89,000 abusive social media posts during the World Cup group stage—a dramatic 13-fold increase from 2022. Racial harassment accounted for 11% of abuse detected, marking a troubling 3% rise from Qatar.
TikTok has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by a Florida teenager alleging the platform damaged his mental health. The agreement follows similar settlements and a jury verdict against Meta and Google.
Three Dutch footballers who missed penalties in Monday's World Cup loss to Morocco have become targets of racist abuse on social media, prompting the Dutch football association to file a formal report with authorities investigating online discrimination.
Australia is escalating its enforcement of the world-first under-16 social media ban by imposing fines up to A$99 million and granting regulators expanded powers to compel tech companies to prove compliance efforts.
Australia is moving to strengthen its child social media ban after finding it largely ineffective since implementation last December. The government is considering enhanced enforcement powers and digital duty of care laws.
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.
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Comedian Chegubard has pleaded not guilty to sedition charges stemming from a social media post concerning Negeri Sembilan's royal institution, marking another flashpoint in Malaysia's ongoing debate over online speech limits.
Police have begun investigating former Umno figure Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi following 153 complaints filed nationwide regarding his social media remarks, marking a significant escalation in political tensions.
Actor Hisyam Hamid has firmly rejected rumours circulating on social media claiming he visited actress Erysha Emyra's home, describing the allegations as baseless and expressing frustration over the misinformation.
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.
YouTube has settled a lawsuit brought by a Florida teenager who claimed the platform harmed his mental health through addictive design. Three other major platforms face trial in July as hundreds of similar cases advance across US courts.
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The Royal Malaysia Police has initiated a formal disciplinary probe following the widespread circulation of a video involving one of its officers on Chinese social media platforms. The Inspector-General reinforces that all personnel must uphold professional standards.
Authorities in Johor are investigating an assault at a Gelang Patah food stall after footage of the incident gained traction on social media. Police are seeking details from witnesses and gathering evidence related to the case.
A Thai court has imprisoned a man for 18 months on royal defamation charges stemming from a single comment he posted in a Facebook group focused on discussing monarchy issues, highlighting ongoing tensions between free speech protections and Thailand's strict lèse-majesté laws.
Malaysia's Minister in the PM's Department for Federal Territories Hannah Yeoh has called on local authorities to take greater responsibility for maintaining public facilities. She emphasised that cleanliness and safety must be prioritised without requiring viral social media complaints to prompt action.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris has disowned a poster about registering mualaf that spread across social media, stating it was never approved by university management and circulated without official channels.
Former Damansara MP Tony Pua has been reclassified from witness to suspect in a police investigation concerning a social media post about Rukun Negara, with charges likely within weeks.
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.