Fahmi raps Meta for poor cooperation despite 168k FB takedown requests

Summary

• Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil says the government has submitted 168,774 takedown requests to Meta’s Facebook, making up 59 percent of all requests across platforms.

• He highlights RM248 million in financial losses linked to scams on Meta platforms and criticises the company’s lack of full cooperation in curbing cybercrime.

• He urges Meta to improve age and identity verification and warns of stricter action if cooperation does not improve.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today revealed that the government has submitted a total of 168,774 content takedown requests to Meta on Facebook alone.

This number, which was recorded on Sept 19, comprises 59 percent of all content takedown requests on all social media platforms, Fahmi said in a statement today.

The minister added that the government had submitted 120,127 takedown requests related to online gambling, of which 114,665 pieces of content were taken down.

As for online scams, Fahmi said 37,722 requests were made while 36,918 were taken down.

“Based on statistics from the police’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department, e-commerce fraud cases on the three Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) for the period from 2023 to August 2025 recorded a total accumulated loss of more than RM248 million, involving 18,128 cases.

“This number shows that Meta has still failed to fully cooperate in combating cybercrime activities. This has affected the authorities’ efforts to protect the people from the increasing threat of online crime.

“However, Meta has assured that it will increase its efforts and cooperation to ensure that illegal content can be dealt with more effectively,” he said.

Better verification needed

Fahmi said that the statement followed a meeting with Meta at MCMC headquarters earlier today.

He said the meeting was also attended by the police’s Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director as well as representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Home Ministry, Finance Ministry, National Anti-Financial Crime Centre, and National Cyber Security Agency.

“The meeting focused on critical issues involving the Meta platforms, particularly Facebook, including online gambling activities, scams, the spread of fake news, 3R (religion, race, royalty) content, and the sale of prohibited products (e-cigarette liquids containing drugs),” Fahmi explained.

He said he has asked Meta and other social media platform providers to introduce better age and identity verification mechanisms, such as the use of MyKad or MyDigital ID.

Fahmi further explained that the existing system failed to prevent underage users from accessing the platform and accessing inappropriate content.

“The Communications Ministry, together with enforcement agencies, will strengthen monitoring measures, as well as consider further action if Meta does not improve its level of cooperation,” he said.

On Sept 4, Bernama reported Fahmi as saying that TikTok has been urged to implement effective mechanisms to curb underage users.

He said he had instructed TikTok to work with the police and MCMC on this issue, after a meeting with the social media firm’s top management and the authorities at Bukit Aman.

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