Meta must expedite requests to take down online gambling content, says Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR: While nearly 8,000 online gambling content have been taken down on Meta platforms since January, the Communications and Digital Ministry still needs firmer commitment from the social media service provider.

Its minister Fahmi Fadzil said that Meta, as the operator, should act faster when receiving requests from the authorities asking to take down online gambling content.

“KKD through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has discussed with Meta to secure their full commitment to addressing the online gambling content more effectively.

“Among the cooperation that we need is for them to act quickly on taking down requests made by the authorities,” he said when wrapping up the ministerial Budget 2024 speech on Wednesday (Nov 1).

He said that between Jan 1 and Sept 30, MCMC in collaboration with Meta and its platforms Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has taken down a total of 7,844 gambling-related content.

Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) in a supplementary question then asked if it was possible for the ministry to tell the operator to require advertisers to declare their personal information before allowing them to advertise on the platforms.

She said that politicians who need to boost their posts on social media will be required to declare their personal information with the platform before being allowed to use the advertising features.

“However, those who advertise online gambling websites are not required to do so. In Europe, there is a guideline about it.

“Can we ask Meta to get the personal information of anyone who wants to advertise so that we can block those who share online gambling content?” Wong said.

In response, Fahmi said: “We will not ask, instead we will order them (Meta).”

“However, we can only do this if we can get the social media platforms to register (their operations) in the country,” he said.

Fahmi said the government is considering making it compulsory for all social media platforms to be registered with the government to operate in Malaysia.

He said this would also help in ensuring the platforms are operating in accordance with Malaysian law.