In-depth reporting on Malaysia and the region.
Malaysia's Communications Minister reports minimal social media violations during Negeri Sembilan's state election campaign, with only 16 complaints filed. Authorities remain alert for potential misinformation surges in final campaign days.
France has become the first European Union member state to ban social media access for children under 15 years old, following parliamentary approval in both legislative chambers this week.
Six female students aged 12 to 16 have been charged with rioting following a violent school incident in Sabah that circulated widely online. All have claimed trial in the Court for Children.
Police have remanded a 52-year-old man for two days in connection with alleged insulting remarks made against the Negri Sembilan royal institution on social media platforms, marking another case involving online speech and monarchy-related sensitivities.
Police in Negeri Sembilan have arrested a man over allegations that he posted insulting content about the state's royal family on social media, with authorities seizing his mobile phone.
Facebook experienced a significant outage affecting users across Malaysia and worldwide on July 19, with service disruptions persisting for several hours and Meta providing no official explanation.
A Philippine vlogger known for political commentary was fatally shot in Caloocan City on Friday. Her partner was wounded. Authorities have launched a special investigation into the motorcycle-riding assailants.
The UK government plans to impose a default midnight-to-6am curfew on social media apps for teenagers aged 16-17, requiring users to actively change settings to access platforms overnight. Tech companies face legal obligations and regulatory sanctions for non-compliance.
Australia's online safety regulator has sounded an alarm over escalating sexual extortion targeting young men and boys, revealing tech giants are failing to adequately combat the crime despite having the tools available.
A 23-year-old man in southwestern China has been detained for skydiving from a high-rise residential building without official permission. He performed the stunt to boost his social media following and faces administrative detention of up to 15 days.
The UN's top communications official has urged young Malaysians to champion information integrity online while calling on governments and tech companies to regulate digital platforms more strictly and combat misinformation.
The European Commission has formally charged Meta with violating digital regulations, demanding it remove addictive features from Instagram and Facebook or face fines reaching 6% of annual revenue.
Malaysia's Department of Environment has firmly denied creating or endorsing a viral infographic ranking state cleanliness levels, urging the public to verify information through official channels only.
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Malaysia's Social Welfare Department has issued a stern warning against publishing children's identities on digital platforms, emphasizing legal consequences and the psychological impact on young people.
Malaysia's Communications Minister has called on social media platforms to intensify measures against election misinformation ahead of Johor's state polls, particularly on voting day.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has called for the Malaysian Media Council to be strengthened as a self-regulatory mechanism, with government support during its early stages and encouragement for social media platforms to join the initiative.
Meta disclosed that four US states are pursuing $1.4 trillion in penalties, claiming the company designed Facebook and Instagram to hook young users and concealed safety risks from the public.
Social media influencer Marissa Dania has publicly refuted accusations that she has marginalised her mother Abby Abadi, calling for restraint before drawing premature conclusions.
Malaysia's police have appealed to the public to refrain from sharing an outdated controversy concerning the dawn call to prayer in Sungai Buloh, which has unexpectedly regained traction online.
Malaysian authorities have cautioned citizens against reposting a previously settled controversy concerning Subuh azan calls disrupting sleep in Sungai Buloh, now gaining traction online.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has publicly distanced itself from a viral social media post, stating that the man featured in the image is not affiliated with the agency, amid widespread speculation online.
Malaysia's Communications Ministry is conducting compliance assessments of licensed social media platforms against two codes introduced under the Online Safety Act 2025, which took effect on June 1.
An Ayer Keroh woman who works as an online seller was charged in magistrate's court with possessing pornography and distributing doctored nude images of another woman via social media.
TikTok has settled a landmark case with a Florida teenager who alleged the platform's addictive features caused severe mental health problems including depression and suicidal ideation. The agreement leaves Meta and Snapchat as remaining defendants in a closely watched trial.
French President Emmanuel Macron and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have issued a joint call for tougher regulation of digital platforms, citing growing threats to children's health and development from online content and data harvesting.
FIFA's digital protection service detected a dramatic 13-fold increase in online abuse during the recent World Cup group stage, identifying 89,000 offensive posts. Racial abuse accounted for 11% of all abusive messages, up from 8% in Qatar's 2022 tournament.
TikTok has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a Florida teenager alleging the platform caused mental health damage through addictive design. The move comes as thousands of similar cases advance against social media giants.
PKR leader Saifuddin Chalil has secured a default judgment in his defamation suit against a social media user who alleged he weaponised tax and anti-corruption agencies against a football club.
A US federal judge has rejected Meta's attempt to dismiss a multi-state lawsuit alleging the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children while concealing the harms.
Australia is introducing parliament laws Monday to strengthen its under-16 social media ban, granting the internet regulator enhanced enforcement powers to pursue tech giants through court for breaching the restrictions.
Australia is escalating enforcement of its ban on social media use by under-16s, hiking maximum penalties to A$99 million and granting its online safety regulator stronger investigative powers as tech giants continue non-compliance.
Australia is moving to strengthen its social media ban for children after evidence revealed the December 2024 legislation has largely failed, with seven in ten underage users still maintaining accounts on major platforms.
Indonesia's communications ministry reports that TikTok and YouTube have deactivated 4.7 million accounts belonging to children under 16 following new government regulations. The enforcement reflects broader global efforts to protect young people from social media harms.
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Social media personality Chegubard has pleaded not guilty to sedition charges stemming from an online post about Negeri Sembilan's royal institution, raising fresh questions about free speech boundaries in Malaysia.
Political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, known as Chegubard, has entered a not guilty plea to sedition charges in Seremban Sessions Court over alleged Facebook content critical of the Negri Sembilan Royal Institution.
Malaysian actor Hisyam Hamid has firmly rejected rumours that circulated on social media claiming he visited the home of actress Erysha Emyra, expressing frustration at what he describes as unfounded allegations.
Malaysia's Communications Ministry has signalled it will enforce strict penalties against social media platforms failing to implement age verification, with maximum fines reaching RM10 million under existing legislation.
A 46-year-old Kuching security guard has been sentenced to jail and fined after posting an offensive comment about the Agong on Facebook. The sessions court judge ruled he owes an apology to all Malaysians and the king.
The European Commission is preparing preliminary findings alleging that Meta's Facebook and Instagram employ exploitative design techniques to addict children, escalating regulatory pressure under the Digital Services Act.
The European Commission is preparing preliminary findings accusing Meta of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to addict young users, intensifying regulatory pressure on the tech giant across multiple jurisdictions.
An Ohio law requiring parental consent for children's social media access has been upheld by a federal appeals court, marking a significant victory for child protection advocates and a setback for major tech companies challenging such restrictions.
A Thai court has convicted and sentenced a man to 18 months imprisonment for posting a comment on Facebook that was deemed defamatory to the Thai monarchy. The case highlights the strict application of lèse-majesté laws in the kingdom.
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Kelantan's Regent Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra received Foreign Minister Fahmi to discuss the proliferation of fraudulent social media accounts impersonating officials and other contemporary challenges facing the state.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil met with Kelantan's Regent, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra, to discuss the escalating problem of fake social media accounts spreading misinformation about Malaysia's Royal Institution.
The UK government will ban social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube for children under 16, with enforcement through action against platforms rather than fining children. Details will emerge in July.
PAS Youth leader Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden has authorized legal proceedings against a Bersatu official following a Facebook post he claims insulted his father and family, marking another flashpoint in the ruling coalition.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will announce Monday a sweeping package of curbs on social media use by British teenagers under 16, as well as restrictions on chatbots and curfews for older youth, before attending a G7 meeting in France.
Florida's attorney general has sued TikTok, claiming the platform breaches state legislation that prohibits social media companies from allowing children under 14 to create accounts. The case seeks compliance measures and damages.