Malaysia announced today that it has filed a civil suit against the social network Telegram, alleging that the platform has disseminated content that could undermine public trust in institutions and threaten social order. This marks the first such legal action taken against a social media platform in the country, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which initiated the suit.
The MCMC stated that two local Telegram channels, “Edisi Siasat” and “Edisi Khas,” were “found to have published content that violated provisions under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.” The commission accused Telegram of a “serious failure to address content that has repeatedly been reported to them, despite various negotiation efforts by MCMC.”
While the commission did not provide specific details about the civil suit or the nature of the allegedly malicious content, it confirmed that the High Court has issued an injunction to halt the spread of the offensive material and prevent similar content from being republished.
“Telegram will be given appropriate space to present its defence in accordance with the principles of justice and human rights,” the MCMC assured in its statement.
The commission also issued a warning that authorities would not hesitate to take similar action against other providers, emphasizing that all social media platforms bear a social responsibility to ensure their content complies with Malaysian laws.
Telegram officials were not immediately available for comment on the matter.
*
Email *
Website
