The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has moved into attack mode on what it views as Meta’s “non-cooperation” in removing undesirable content, including religion and race, from Facebook. 

In a strongly worded statement, MCMC says it is “utterly intolerant towards any continuous and escalating abuse of online platforms and telecommunications, network or online facilities for malicious cyber activities, phishing, or any content that threatens racial stability, social harmony and defies respect for the Rulers”. 

Threatening legal action, MCMC accuses Meta of being “sluggish and unsatisfactory” and failing to recognise “the urgency of the matter”. 

MCMC says Facebook has been “plagued by a significant volume of undesirable contents relating to the aspects of Race, Royalty, Religion (3R), defamation, impersonation, online gambling as well as scam advertisements”.

Meta has “failed to take sufficient action to address the issue of undesirable contents on its platform and has not fully cooperated with efforts to remove such contents,” MCMC says, adding that this has led to “increasing public concern and scrutiny”. 

“As there is no sufficient cooperation from Meta, MCMC has no option but to take definitive steps or legal action against Meta as a measure to ensure that people are secure and protected in the digital sphere,” MCMC says. 

“The action is necessary in promoting accountability for cybersecurity and enhancing consumer protection against online harms, including fraudulent activities and scams,” the commission adds.