THE misuse of artificial intelligence, particularly deepfake technology, to produce inappropriate content targeting women has become an escalating concern in Malaysia, with nearly 7,000 takedown requests submitted to social media platforms since 2024.
Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching revealed that the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) received 6,987 requests for content removal between 1 January 2024 and 1 March 2026, with 95 per cent, or 6,657 items, already taken down.
“In 2024, 817 pieces of content were removed, while in 2025 this rose to 3,389. This year, in just the first two months, we have taken down 2,451 inappropriate items using deepfake and AI technology,” she said during the 115th International Women’s Day celebration at UCSI University.
Teo highlighted that women are disproportionately affected by this trend.
“When technology like deepfake is misused, we see that even more women become victims. This is a worrying and concerning trend,” she said.
The deputy minister confirmed that the MCMC will begin enforcing a framework for online safety this year under the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA) to strengthen protection for users, particularly women and children.
“MCMC has been developing regulatory instruments to ensure platform providers are accountable. This allows inappropriate, pornographic, or exploitative content targeting women or children to be removed more swiftly,” she explained.
Teo also encouraged students to continue using technology creatively and responsibly to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.
“I hope students will continue to demonstrate their trust and creativity in this industry so that we can see a world with greater gender equality, where men and women are treated equally,” she said.
In her keynote, Teo warned that AI tools trained on existing gender biases enable violence against women to spread more quickly, broadly, and in complex ways, worsening global technological abuse.
She noted that at least one in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence, and that the emergence of powerful AI tools has created what she described as a “strong storm.”
“Although technologically facilitated violence against women and girls is rising, with studies showing 16 to 58 per cent of women globally affected, AI is generating new forms of abuse while amplifying existing forms at an alarming rate,” Teo said.
She emphasised that under the MADANI Government’s agenda, protections for women are being strengthened both online and offline through ONSA and the Anti-Bullying Act 2025, which enhance enforcement mechanisms against harmful content, online harassment, cyberbullying, scams, and digital exploitation.
“These laws provide clearer compliance obligations for platforms, stronger investigative powers for regulators, and harsher penalties for offenders,” she added.
The warning comes amid growing concern that AI-driven tools can intensify gender-based violence, making regulatory oversight and swift action against inappropriate content critical to protecting vulnerable communities in Malaysia. - March 6, 2026
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