THE Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is in discussions with TikTok following the recent blocking of 18 local media organisation accounts, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today.
The accounts were reportedly blocked due to their coverage of a molestation case at a mosque in Batang Kali involving a young girl.
Fahmi explained that initial information from TikTok suggested the blocking was a result of the platform's artificial intelligence (AI) misinterpreting the media outlets' reporting as inappropriate content.
Bernama reported that Fahmi explained that AI often fails to distinguish between professional media reporting and user-generated content, which led to the wrongful suspension of these accounts.
"I've requested a discussion with TikTok to refine the functions of media accounts on the platform to ensure this type of action doesn’t occur in the future," Fahmi said.
"The issue here is the AI itself, and we need to make sure TikTok understands that media organisations operate differently from ordinary users."
Speaking at the launch of the ‘AI in the Newsroom’ course by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Fahmi emphasised that the blocked reports were standard news coverage and should not have been flagged by TikTok’s AI systems.
He added that TikTok's increased reliance on AI for content moderation has led to misunderstandings, affecting media accounts which adhere to professional journalistic standards.
Fahmi called for a future dialogue with TikTok to explore potential adjustments, including granting media organisations a special status on the platform.
"TikTok needs to understand that media companies follow their own code of ethics and guidelines when producing reports, and this should be recognised when moderating content," he said.
In support of the issue, Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin expressed hope that MCMC would assist in restoring the affected TikTok accounts.
"The content in question is not sensitive. It's just standard reporting of a local incident, and we hope the matter will be resolved quickly," she added.
The incident highlights concerns over AI’s role in content moderation and the challenges media outlets face when working with social media platforms.
Separately, Fahmi said every media organisation in the country is advised to prepare an artificial intelligence (AI) transformation plan in their respective operations, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
However, he said they need to be careful in making investments in the technology so that it does not affect existing employees.
“... I do not want a situation where many workers are being laid off or losing jobs. I also note that, sometimes, many journalists have to do two or three other tasks.
“Prior to this, they only had to do one (reporting) task, but now, they have to do two or three other tasks. Maybe in that aspect, AI can help them to gain efficiencies,” Bernam reported him saying at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today after launching the ‘AI in the Newsroom’ course organised by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), the first course in a series of AI-related training programmes for media professionals.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said that every media organisation also needs to make an investment to appoint a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to safeguard all the data they produce.
“This post is very important because we have amended the Personal Data Protection Act and we know that today's data, including that produced by media companies, is very valuable.
“So if there is a CISO, we can safeguard the data and we can benefit from it,” he said.
Regarding the course today, Fahmi hopes that more media organisations can benefit from the experience of experts who were invited to share their knowledge.
He said the ministry would seek feedback from media companies and journalists involved on the role that the government can play to help them navigate the changes caused by the emergence of new technologies.
“Previously, we used to discuss a lot about the impact of social media, but now with the advent of AI, perhaps some of the functional tasks of positions such as editors, graphic designers and so on will be affected.
“I had a meeting with several affected media companies last week, but I believe we would see more media organisations being affected in the future,” he said.
Fahmi said with such a course being available, it is hoped that media organisations will be able to take steps to understand and take advantage of the changes and at the same time find new opportunities for their employees to use the new application.
The course will also be organised in other states so that all media outlets across the country can take the opportunity to gain new knowledge, he added. - February 24, 2025
