Malaysia orders TikTok to address ‘defamatory’ content about king

Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has ordered TikTok to address "offensive and defamatory" content concerning the country's monarchy. The MCMC instructed the video-sharing platform to implement immediate remedial measures and strengthen its moderation policies. This action follows the circulation of "grossly offensive, false, menacing and insulting" content, including AI-generated videos and manipulated images, on an account purportedly linked to King Sultan Ibrahim. The MCMC stated that TikTok's previous responses to notifications were unsatisfactory and emphasized the seriousness of online platforms being used to disseminate content detrimental to public order and the monarchy. Malaysia has laws penalizing speech that inspires hatred or contempt against the royal family.

Malaysia's internet regulator, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has issued a statutory demand to TikTok. This action was taken after a fake account allegedly used artificial intelligence to create offensive and defamatory content targeting the country's king, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar. The content included false claims about the king and manipulated images. The MCMC stated that TikTok failed to take sufficient and timely action against this material. The demand seeks an explanation from TikTok regarding its failure to block the account and its content.