KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will summon Meta to explain allegations that the social media giant profited from scam-linked and illegal gambling advertisements.
In a statement today, MCMC said it has also launched an investigation into the matter, describing the allegations as “deeply concerning” and a potential breach of public trust and national law if proven true.
This follows a Reuters report alleging that Meta earned revenue from scam-linked and illegal advertising globally.
“MCMC shares the concern raised by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and will begin investigating the matter immediately.
“If proven true, this would represent a serious breach of public trust and national law,” the commission said.
MCMC said it had previously urged Meta to adopt stronger and more proactive detection measures, stressing that the current approach remains inadequate and continues to expose Malaysians to financial losses and exploitation.
To strengthen online safety, the regulator reiterated that all social media and messaging platforms operating in Malaysia must hold valid licences and demonstrate credible safeguards against abuse.
“Platforms are also encouraged to introduce user identity verification systems to increase accountability.
“MCMC will not hesitate to take firm action against any platform found to have knowingly facilitated or abetted unlawful activities,” it said.
According to Reuters, Meta internally projected late last year that around 10 per cent of its annual global revenue — about US$16 billion — came from advertisements linked to scams and banned goods.
The report also claimed that Meta failed to detect and prevent a surge of fraudulent ads targeting users of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp worldwide.
Fahmi said that if the figures were accurate, over RM250 million of that revenue could have come from scam and gambling advertisements in Malaysia.
He also expressed disappointment over the 30 to 45 minutes Meta reportedly takes to act on each takedown request submitted by MCMC.
The commission revealed that Meta had been ordered to remove more than 200,000 scam and illegal gambling advertisements in Malaysia this year alone — far exceeding the figures recorded by other major platforms.
Between Jan 1 and Nov 4, MCMC submitted 157,208 takedown requests involving online gambling promotions and another 44,922 requests related to scam advertisements flagged on Meta’s platforms.
By comparison, MCMC issued 45,448 requests to YouTube, 3,956 to TikTok, 269 to Telegram, and 11 to X (formerly Twitter) during the same period.
“The disparity underscores Meta’s failure to curb illegal and harmful advertisements, despite multiple engagements and warnings,” it said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
