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Malaysia Obtains Court Order Against Telegram Over Harmful Content

/in /tarafından

Malaysia’s communications regulator announced on Thursday it has secured a temporary court order against messaging platform Telegram and two specific channels for allegedly spreading content that violates Malaysian law.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it sought the order due to Telegram’s “serious failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported.” The two targeted Telegram channels, named “Edisi Siasat” and “Edisi Khas,” reportedly contained material with the potential to undermine public trust in national institutions and disrupt social harmony.

A Malaysian high court granted an interim injunction to halt the dissemination of the harmful content and prevent its republication. The commission did not specify the exact nature of the content.

Telegram did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The MCMC emphasized that Telegram would be given a fair chance to defend itself in accordance with justice and fundamental rights.

In January, Malaysia enacted a new social media law requiring platforms and messaging services with over 8 million users in the country to obtain licenses or face legal penalties. The law targets rising cybercrime and increasing harmful social media content.

Malaysian authorities classify online gambling, scams, child pornography and grooming, cyberbullying, and content related to race, religion, and royalty as harmful under the law.

Elon Musk’s X Sues New York Over Social Media Hate Speech Disclosure Law

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Elon Musk’s social media company, X Corp, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging the constitutionality of New York’s Stop Hiding Hate Act, which mandates social media platforms to publicly disclose how they monitor and manage hate speech, extremism, disinformation, harassment, and foreign political interference.

X argues the law violates the First Amendment and state constitutional rights by forcing the company to reveal “highly sensitive and controversial speech” that New York officials might find objectionable, potentially exposing the company to lawsuits and heavy fines. The law imposes civil penalties of up to $15,000 per violation per day.

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, states that deciding what speech is acceptable is a complex issue that “engenders considerable debate among reasonable people,” and that regulating this is not a role for government authorities.

X cited a letter from the law’s sponsors, state Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Grace Lee, accusing Musk and X of having a “disturbing record” on content moderation that allegedly threatens democratic foundations.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who enforces the law, is the named defendant. Her office did not immediately comment.

Since acquiring Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion, Musk has promoted himself as a free speech absolutist, significantly reducing content moderation on the platform, which was rebranded as X.

New York’s law, signed in December by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul with help from the Anti-Defamation League, requires platforms to disclose their efforts and report progress in combating harmful content.

The law mirrors a similar 2023 California law, whose enforcement was partially blocked by a federal appeals court last September over free speech concerns. Notably, California agreed in February to suspend enforcement of disclosure requirements after reaching a settlement with X.

Legislators Hoylman-Sigal and Lee expressed confidence that the court will uphold New York’s law, emphasizing the necessity of transparency given Musk’s resistance.

Case Reference: X Corp v. James, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 25-05068.

Malaysia Grants Licences to WeChat and TikTok Under New Social Media Law

/in /tarafından

Malaysia’s communications regulator has granted licences to WeChat and TikTok to operate under the country’s new social media law, which aims to combat rising cybercrime. The law, which took effect on January 1, mandates that social media platforms and messaging services with more than 8 million users in Malaysia must obtain a licence, or face legal action.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced on Wednesday that Tencent’s WeChat and ByteDance’s TikTok have been granted their licences. Messaging platform Telegram is in the final stages of the application process, while Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has begun the licensing procedure.

However, some platforms have not applied for the licence. X (formerly Twitter) has not submitted an application, stating that its local user base does not exceed the 8 million threshold. The regulator is currently reviewing the validity of this claim. Additionally, Alphabet’s Google, which operates YouTube, has not applied for a licence either, citing concerns about YouTube’s video-sharing features and how they relate to the new law. The MCMC has indicated that YouTube must still comply with the licensing requirements.

The law requires platforms to adhere to guidelines to curb harmful content, including online gambling, scams, child pornography, cyberbullying, and offensive content related to race, religion, and royalty. Malaysia has seen an uptick in harmful social media content in early 2024, prompting authorities to urge platforms like Meta and TikTok to enhance their monitoring efforts.

While companies do not disclose their user numbers per country, independent data suggests WeChat has 12 million users in Malaysia, while TikTok has around 28.68 million users aged 18 and above. Facebook has 22.35 million users, YouTube has 24.1 million users, and X has 5.71 million users in the country.