KUALA LUMPUR – Facebook Malaysia has denied any knowledge of or involvement in the activities of a group with a self-proclaimed crusade against moderates and liberals.
In a letter by its legal representative Zaid Ibrahim & Co to a group called Lingan and Nathan Associates, Facebook Malaysia said it “does not own, operate or host the Facebook service”.
The letter, which was seen by The Vibes, said the Facebook service in Malaysia is operated by Facebook, Inc.
The said service collectively refers to the website available at www.facebook.com, and apps for mobile phones and tablets, it said.
It added that Facebook, Inc is a corporation organised and existing under the laws of Delaware in the United States, with California being the principal place of business.
“Facebook, Inc is the entity with which Facebook users in Malaysia have their contractual relationship.”
The letter from Zaid Ibrahim and Co is in response to a complaint lodged Lingam and Nathan Associates, which wrote a letter to Facebook Malaysia dated February 9, sent via email on March 9.
The group alleged that Facebook Malaysia enabled or facilitated No Nonsense Netizens’ (N3) misuse of the social media platform.
Zaid Ibrahim and Co informed Lingam and Nathan Associates that all further correspondence regarding the matter should be forwarded to Facebook, Inc, whose address is in Menlo Park, California, adding that the firm has forwarded the complaint to the latter “in the spirit of cooperation”.
“For the reasons stated above, Facebook Malaysia assumes no further action is necessary,” said the letter by the firm.
“Please also take note that we are not authorised to accept any service on behalf of Facebook Malaysia, and that Facebook Malaysia is not an agent of Facebook, Inc in any manner whatsoever.”
Earlier today, The Vibes reported that N3, a group of “highly educated” and religiously conservative Facebook users with fake accounts, has launched a crusade against moderate and liberal netizens, using offensive arguments to debate and counter their beliefs.
Members of the informal Islamic group have waded into the comment sections of popular news pages to attack “liberal” Malay and non-Muslim users with provocative remarks.
Some N3 members are self-professed scholars in various fields, including religion.
The establishment of the group was marked with a post on January 9, in which the account of Nora Ree declared N3 a non-partisan “Muslim sisterhood, shield maidens and enforcers of karma”.
Nora – who claims to be a former non-Muslim – said N3 promises to be a “nightmare” for non-Muslims and “liberal” Muslims who are “uncordial or undiplomatic” in their comments.
Lingam and Nathan Associates told The Vibes that N3 has been “terrorising” other users with “impunity” on threads that touch on racial and religious sensitivities, in the name of defending Malays and Islam.
They also believe that there are higher forces at play, suggesting that N3 members have connections with Facebook moderators in the country.
They did not discount the possibility that these members are professional cybertroopers serving a political purpose.
Early last month, Lingam and Nathan Associates submitted a complaint to Facebook Malaysia over what they believe is the “scandalous” and “abusive” conduct of people in Facebook’s employment, or contractors who moderate the platform.
Other than Facebook, the complaint was also forwarded to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Personal Data Protection Department, and Communications and Multimedia Ministry. – The Vibes, March 30, 2021
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