Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil revealed on Monday that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has detected and requested the takedown of more than 127,000 scam-related posts across major social media platforms since January 1. The disclosure underscores the scale of online fraud affecting Malaysians and highlights the mounting challenge facing regulators tasked with combating deceptive content that exploits millions of daily users across the country's digital landscape.
The distribution of fraudulent material reveals a stark concentration on two platforms: Facebook hosts 53 percent of the flagged content, while TikTok accounts for 39 percent. This pattern indicates that scammers are deliberately targeting platforms with the largest user bases and most lenient moderation standards, seeking to reach vulnerable audiences through familiar, trusted channels. The remaining eight percent is scattered across other social media services, suggesting that while Facebook and TikTok dominate the problem, the issue is not confined to these two giants.
Fahmi explained that these removal requests represent 27 percent of all content deletion demands the MCMC has submitted to social media companies throughout the same period. This proportion indicates that while scam material constitutes a substantial portion of harmful online content, it is merely one category among numerous problematic posts that regulators must address. The remaining requests cover other types of harmful content ranging from hate speech and misinformation to content threatening public safety and national security.
The fraudulent posts predominantly utilise fake accounts created specifically to deceive consumers and steal personal information or money. Scammers craft convincing profiles mimicking legitimate businesses, financial institutions, or government agencies to establish false credibility before approaching potential victims. This modus operandi has proven highly effective on platforms where user verification remains minimal and account creation requires minimal identification. The prevalence of such accounts underscores a fundamental vulnerability in how social media platforms balance user accessibility with security measures.
In response to the escalating threat, Fahmi urged Malaysians to adopt several protective practices. The government has promoted two verification portals, Sebenarnya.my and MyCheck, which offer fact-checking services and content authentication tools. Additionally, the minister encouraged citizens to rely on information from established news organisations rather than unverified social media posts, emphasising that traditional media outlets maintain editorial standards and accountability mechanisms absent from user-generated content platforms.
The MCMC's efforts operate within an increasingly structured regulatory framework introduced through the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866), which took effect on June 1. This legislation established two specific compliance codes for identified social media platforms: the Child Protection Code (CPC) and the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC). These codes set mandatory standards for protecting vulnerable users, particularly children, and mitigating risks posed by harmful content. The government has allocated several months for major platforms to demonstrate full compliance with these requirements.
Fahmi stressed that the compliance period is necessary given the resource-intensive nature of content moderation operations. Each takedown request submitted by MCMC requires 30 to 45 minutes of administrative processing, including documentation, verification, and formal submission to the relevant platform. This time investment across thousands of requests translates into substantial operational costs for the government body, which operates within finite budgetary constraints. The extended timeline thus reflects both practical limitations and a recognition that platforms require adequate notice to restructure their operations and implement the required compliance measures.
The minister's statement reveals a fundamental tension in digital governance: the rapid pace at which scam content proliferates versus the glacial speed of bureaucratic processes required to remove it. Scammers can create and distribute deceptive material within minutes, yet each removal request demands nearly an hour of government processing time. This asymmetry suggests that reactive content moderation, however diligent, will always lag behind the production of new fraudulent material. The situation highlights why preventive measures and platform-level accountability are increasingly viewed as necessary complements to government takedown requests.
The concentration of scam activity on Facebook and TikTok raises questions about why these platforms have become preferred channels for fraudsters. Both services employ algorithmic systems that can inadvertently amplify questionable content, while their vast user bases provide enormous pools of potential victims. Moreover, the commercial incentive structures driving engagement metrics can inadvertently create environments where scam content spreads rapidly. The platforms' reliance on user reporting for initial detection often means that harmful content circulates extensively before moderation teams intervene.
Malaysia's approach to online safety reflects broader regional and global challenges in establishing regulatory frameworks for digital spaces. Unlike traditional broadcast media, social media platforms operate across borders and remain largely self-regulated. The MCMC's efforts represent an attempt to impose accountability through national legislation, yet enforcement remains constrained by limited jurisdiction over foreign-based companies and the technical complexities of content removal at scale. The voluntary compliance approach adopted through grace periods and codes rather than punitive measures suggests Malaysia is attempting to balance regulatory ambitions with practical constraints.
The disclosure also carries implications for Malaysia's growing digital economy and e-commerce sector. Widespread scam activity undermines consumer confidence in online transactions and digital services, potentially deterring adoption of legitimate digital platforms and services. When citizens become wary of online interactions due to prevalent fraud, the entire ecosystem suffers. This creates pressure on platforms to demonstrate commitment to user safety and on government regulators to prove they can protect their constituents in digital spaces.
Looking forward, the challenge for MCMC and social media platforms will be developing more proactive detection systems rather than relying solely on removal requests after fraudulent content has circulated. Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications could theoretically identify scam patterns automatically, yet such systems remain imperfect and require constant refinement. The coming months will test whether the Child Protection Code and Risk Mitigation Code framework can drive meaningful improvements in platform behaviour, or whether voluntary compliance proves insufficient to address the scale of online fraud affecting Malaysian users.
