[UPDATED] TikTok blocked over 1,000 videos post-GE15 week

KUALA LUMPUR – TikTok has automatically blocked a total of 1,126 videos in the week after polling day, which allegedly contain “extremist content”, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said on polling day itself, TikTok blocked 130 videos and 857 clips prior to the 15th general election

“We started with TikTok because we saw a lot of May 13 videos, for example. That was a serious cause for concern. 

“We also reached out to Meta, because we would like to include WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook,” he said in a press conference in Putrajaya today.

“I’d hate to think of TikTok as the wild, wild west. But when we look at the info…people are still using it to disseminate extremist content. 

“I wouldn’t say operators can’t entirely wash their hands off it, but we would like to see how we can better regulate (the content),” he added.

Fahmi added that while TikTok’s automatic blocking mechanism is controlled by the platform’s artificial intelligence system, government agencies had also submitted complaints to the short-form video-sharing platform. 

“The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) sent in 202 requests for certain clips to be removed. 

“A total of 95 videos were then taken down for violating TikTok’s community guidelines while another 28 were removed for going against laws in the country. TikTok decided to take no action against 79 of the complaints.

“It is hoped that the meeting (with TikTok) will kickstart not only closer cooperation between the government and social media companies, but also an analysis of existing laws to ensure that social media owners are more responsive to requests from the government.” 

He added that while authorities will be looking at current laws to see how rules against hate speech can be strengthened, such efforts will be made without compromising the right to freedom of speech. 

Fahmi’s ministry had earlier met with TikTok representatives on Monday to seek clarity on the platform’s regulatory framework with regard to racial and religious sensitivities. 

This follows concerns raised on misinformation and messages touching on the deadly riots of May 13, 1969, which made their rounds on social media during GE15. – The Vibes, December 7, 2022