Not all online content, including on TikTok, taken down in the country was made based on the applications of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) or the government, said Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.

She said the removal of content by platform providers is subject to the consideration and evaluation of the platform providers themselves based on reports of abuse by users or the authorities.

"The Government Takedown Request Report indeed states that TikTok has received 1,862 requests from the government, but this report also shows that the total number of applications received for content removal is 6,231.

"This means that not all requests to take down content are made by MCMC or the government," she said at the winding up session of the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Human Rights Commission Act (Suhakam) 2021 and 2022 for the Communications Ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Teo said the report also showed that 2,514 contents were taken down for violating community guidelines, 2,970 were taken action for violating local laws and 747 contents were not taken action by TikTok.

She said this shows that if the platform does not feel that certain content violates the two laws or guidelines above, it will not take down the requested content.

Unfair assumption

She said if there is any content that has been taken down by a social media platform provider, users are advised to contact the relevant social media platform provider directly to find out the justification for the removal.

Teo pointed out that it is unfair to assume that all the content posted is related to criticism of the government considering that from 2019 to 2023 online fraud increased by 95.2 percent and online gambling increased by 273 percent (2019 to 2022).

"When MCMC took proactive action by sending a report to the platform provider, accusations also came from MPs on the other side that this was an attempt by the government to tighten media freedom, while we all need to understand that this issue is faced not only in Malaysia today but by the other governments too," she said.

She said the government is committed to protecting internet users in Malaysia from harmful online activities such as those involving public interest, crime, misuse, threats and provocation.

Accordingly, the actions taken are to maintain the balance of freedom of expression and the protection of society as a whole, she said.

- Bernama

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