THE Kuala Lumpur High Court on Friday granted the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) an injunction to prevent the dissemination of harmful content on Telegram, including the closure of two channels, Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas, pending MCMC’s interlocutory appeal at the Court of Appeal.
The court ruling follows MCMC’s civil action against Telegram and represents a key step in the regulator’s efforts to safeguard Malaysia’s digital landscape.
The Erinford Injunction prohibits the publication of false, misleading, and inflammatory material, as well as any content that could undermine public confidence in national institutions.
The High Court emphasised that public interest outweighs private interest, noting that “the potential prejudice to Telegram was minimal compared to the potential harm to national institutions and public order should such content be allowed to persist.”
The ruling also highlighted the responsibility of foreign platforms to understand and respect Malaysia’s social and cultural context.
The court stated that operators like Telegram “must exercise sensitivity and respect towards the nation’s constitutional and social context,” underscoring the obligation of global platform providers to comply with Malaysian laws and local values when managing online content. - October 31, 2025
