COMMUNICATIONS Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil is set to meet with representatives of Meta on 22 September to raise Malaysia’s concerns over online gambling content increasingly appearing on the company’s platforms — particularly Facebook.
Speaking to reporters today, Fahmi confirmed the meeting date, noting that several unresolved matters regarding unlicensed social media operations in Malaysia would be on the agenda.
“I will be meeting with Meta on 22 September. We will be discussing several key issues,” he said.
The minister revealed that the majority of content removed from Facebook in recent months was related to online gambling, including advertisements and posts promoting illegal betting activities.
Fahmi acknowledged that such material remains alarmingly accessible on the platform and criticised Meta for its refusal to act on credit card accounts used to pay for gambling ads.
“If gambling ads are paid for using credit cards, and Facebook knows the content is illegal in Malaysia, they should block the associated credit card accounts. But Facebook has refused to do so,” he stated.
He added that while the government is aware of public frustration, it is opting for engagement rather than punitive action.
“We’re not aiming to ban or shut down these platforms. Our approach is constructive dialogue,” said Fahmi.
“Many Malaysians derive social and economic benefit from these platforms, but we cannot allow criminals to exploit them for profit or cybercrime.”
Fahmi said he remains hopeful that the upcoming discussions will pave the way for stronger cooperation and more effective content moderation from the tech company. - September 14, 2025
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