Malaysia regulator orders TikTok to remediate content targeting monarchy
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has instructed the platform to strengthen policies and address AI-generated content linked to King Sultan Ibrahim, warning of further enforcement action.
Malaysia’s internet regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has ordered TikTok to take immediate remedial action against content deemed offensive and defamatory regarding the country’s monarchy. The watchdog issued the directive on Thursday, instructing the video-sharing platform to strengthen its moderation policies and provide a formal explanation for its failure to block material described as grossly offensive, false, menacing and insulting.
The regulator identified the problematic content as including AI-generated videos and manipulated images linked to an account purporting to be associated with King Sultan Ibrahim. The MCMC stated it takes a serious view of online platforms disseminating content that is false or detrimental to public order, particularly concerning the monarchy. The order was issued after the commission found TikTok’s response to previous notifications to be unsatisfactory.
TikTok, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The MCMC warned it would continue to take firm and proportionate action where necessary to ensure digital platforms operating in Malaysia uphold their responsibilities in maintaining a safe, secure and respectful online environment.
This regulatory move occurs within a strict legal framework for the constitutional monarchy, where speech deemed to inspire hatred or contempt against the royal family is penalised under a sedition law passed in 1948. The MCMC’s intervention marks the latest in a series of efforts by Malaysian authorities to regulate social media platforms and manage digital content.
The order follows recent actions by the regulator, including the temporary blocking of the AI assistant Grok in January due to its use in creating sexually explicit images without consent. Additionally, the Malaysian government is preparing to enforce legislation passed last year that prohibits social media use by individuals under the age of 16, aligning with similar measures in Australia, Indonesia and France.
