Bold, independent coverage of Malaysian politics, business and current affairs.
Malaysia's Communications Minister says social media activity during the Negeri Sembilan state election campaign has been orderly, with only 16 complaints filed to the MCMC since campaigning began on July 23.
France has enacted groundbreaking legislation making it the first EU country to ban social media for children under 15, with overwhelming parliamentary support and implementation beginning in September.
An independent candidate running for the Sri Tanjung seat in Negri Sembilan faces court charges next month related to a social media posting. The case highlights ongoing tensions around online speech during election campaigns in Malaysia.
Police have remanded a 52-year-old man for two days in connection with social media posts allegedly insulting the Negri Sembilan royal institution, as authorities investigate potential breaches of laws protecting Malaysia's monarchy.
Negeri Sembilan police have arrested a man over a social media post allegedly containing insulting remarks about the state's royalty. His mobile phone was seized during the operation.
Facebook users worldwide, including in Malaysia, faced significant access difficulties on July 19 when a major platform outage prevented logins and disrupted core functions, with Meta remaining silent on causes.
Controversial internet personalities Andrew and Tristan Tate have been arrested in Miami following fresh rape and sex-trafficking charges filed by British prosecutors, marking an escalation in legal proceedings against the brothers.
YouTube has appealed a Los Angeles court verdict ordering it to pay US$3 million in damages to a woman who claimed the platform's design features caused social media addiction and mental health deterioration during her childhood.
The Malaysian Army has completed an internal investigation into viral allegations linking a member to sexual offences, concluding the claims are inconsistent with factual evidence. The military has criticised the use of social media as an investigation tool.
Sexual harassment allegations against students at Indonesian universities have sparked internal investigations and renewed focus on campus safety mechanisms, with victims increasingly using social media to report abuse.
Police in Kangar, Perlis have arrested a social media influencer on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and creating exploitative imagery. The alleged incident occurred at a residential property.
The European Commission has formally charged Meta Platforms for designing Instagram and Facebook with addictive features, demanding changes to autoplay and infinite scroll or risk substantial fines under the Digital Services Act.
A political activist has been convicted and fined RM11,000 by Sessions court for posting an offensive TikTok video targeting former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri. The judge cautioned that any future conviction could result in imprisonment.
Malaysia's Department of Environment has categorically denied publishing a viral infographic ranking state cleanliness levels, warning the public against treating unverified social media content as official government information.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph1dgqrg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph1dgqrp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22320%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EJKM%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Malaysia's Social Welfare Department has issued a stern warning against publishing children's identities on social media, citing both legal consequences and serious psychological harm to minors.
Malaysia's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has called on social media platforms to intensify efforts against false information during the Johor state election, particularly on polling day, warning that coordinated action with regulators is essential.
Malaysia's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has urged the strengthening of the Malaysian Media Council and pushed for greater participation from social media platforms, arguing that self-regulation must extend beyond traditional newsrooms to address digital content challenges.
Meta disclosed that four US states are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties over claims the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to addict young users, with a trial set for August in Oakland, California.
Influencer Marissa Dania has publicly rejected claims that she has marginalised her mother Abby Abadi, appealing to the public to avoid making hasty judgements about her family dynamics.
Police have issued a public appeal asking Malaysians not to reshare an aged controversy involving Sungai Buloh residents complaining that the dawn azan disrupted their sleep, after the dispute recently went viral across social media platforms.
Police have called on the public to refrain from resharing an old dispute over dawn azan calls in Sungai Buloh that has recently circulated widely on social media, warning against reviving the contentious issue.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph5xgy7g)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph5xgy7p)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22320%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3ETen%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Ten teenagers have been arrested in Tawau following a video of alleged student assault that went viral on social media, prompting a police investigation into the incident involving four schoolchildren.
India's technology ministry has instructed Meta to remove all sexual abuse content involving children from Instagram and Facebook, and to disable related advertisements. The directive follows a BBC investigation revealing such material in Indian Instagram ads.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has publicly denied that an individual appearing in a widely shared social media post is affiliated with the agency, addressing speculation that has circulated online.
An online seller in Melaka has been charged with possessing pornography and distributing doctored intimate images of another woman via social media last month.
TikTok has settled a case brought by a Florida teenager alleging social media caused mental health damage. The settlement comes as hundreds of similar lawsuits challenge major platforms over addictive features targeting young users.
FIFA's digital monitoring system uncovered a dramatic 13-fold increase in online abuse during the World Cup group stage, with nearly 90,000 abusive posts identified and one in nine containing racial slurs or discriminatory content.
TikTok has settled a lawsuit brought by a 15-year-old boy alleging the platform damaged his mental health, marking the latest payout as courts grapple with social media's effects on young users.
TikTok has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a Florida teenager who claimed the platform damaged his mental health through addictive design. The settlement comes as social media companies face thousands of similar cases across US courts.
A US federal judge has rejected Meta's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by state attorneys general, who allege the company deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children while concealing health risks.
The US House has passed legislation requiring tech platforms to protect children online, but Senate lawmakers are pushing for stricter rules that would hold companies legally accountable for harmful content.
Australia is introducing legislation on Monday to strengthen its under-16 social media ban and grant its internet regulator enhanced enforcement powers to take tech giants to court for violations.
Indonesia's communications ministry says TikTok and YouTube have collectively deactivated 4.7 million accounts belonging to children under 16, marking the enforcement of stricter digital protections introduced in March.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph133gag)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph133gap)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22226%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3ESocial%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Badrul Hisham Shaharin, known as Chegubard, has pleaded not guilty to sedition charges following an online post about Negeri Sembilan's royal institution, with trial dates set for next year.
Malaysian actor Hisyam Hamid has firmly denied viral rumours suggesting he visited actress Erysha Emyra's residence, dismissing the allegations as baseless and expressing disappointment over unfounded speculation.
Malaysia's Communications Ministry has mandated that social media platforms implement age-verification systems to ensure only users aged 16 and above can create accounts, part of a broader push to safeguard children online.
European leaders are building consensus around restricting children's social media access, with Ireland's incoming EU presidency positioning the bloc to coordinate policy ahead of UK and Australian precedents.
Malaysia's Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has warned social media platforms they face fines of up to RM10 million for non-compliance with mandatory age-verification requirements, signalling the government's tougher stance on regulating digital platforms.
A 46-year-old security guard in Kuching has been convicted and sentenced for posting offensive content about the Agong on Facebook, with the judge emphasizing the gravity of insulting the monarchy.
Google's YouTube has settled a lawsuit from a Florida teenager claiming the platform damaged his mental health, strengthening arguments that social media companies knowingly addict young users. Three other major platforms face trial in July.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23phffm6g)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23phffm6p)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22226%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EPolice%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
The Royal Malaysia Police has initiated disciplinary proceedings against an officer whose conduct was captured in a video that gained significant traction on Chinese social platforms. The Inspector-General of Police has underscored that all personnel remain subject to strict accountability standards.
Police in Johor have opened an investigation into an assault caught on video at a Gelang Patah food stall that has sparked widespread discussion online. Authorities are examining circumstances surrounding the incident.
Deputy National Unity Minister R. Yuneswaran has urged greater emphasis on mother-tongue proficiency among young Malaysians to address recurring 3R tensions that surface on social media platforms.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph14r4bg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph14r4bp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22170%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EKelantan%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Kelantan's Regent Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra received Foreign Minister Zahir Fahmi in Kota Bharu to discuss misinformation campaigns, fraudulent social media accounts, and pressing state governance matters affecting the region.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris has denied involvement in a poster about registering 'saudara baharu' that circulated on social media, stating it was never approved by university administration.
Kelantan's Regent Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra received Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil at Kota Lama Palace to discuss the escalating problem of fake social media accounts spreading misinformation about the Malaysian Royal Institution.
PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden has instructed lawyers to pursue legal action following a Facebook post attributed to a Bersatu leader that allegedly insulted his father and family members.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will Monday announce a ban on social media use for under-16s, along with curbs on older teenagers and chatbot regulations, before departing for the G7 summit in France.
Florida's attorney general has sued TikTok, alleging the platform breaches state law by permitting underage account creation and exposing minors to harmful content. The lawsuit seeks court-ordered compliance and damages.