KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching has called on online platforms to take stricter action against digital scams by improving content monitoring systems and providing tools to verify authenticity.
She said malicious activities increasingly exploit advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), pressing the need for more robust measures.
"While public education campaigns are essential for raising awareness about digital fraud, platform providers like TikTok and Meta must enhance their monitoring systems and introduce features such as labelling AI-generated content to help users verify what they see.
"Platforms like Meta should also tighten their screening processes for advertisements to prevent misleading or harmful content," she said during her closing address at the International Regulatory Conference 2025 today.
Teo said it was concerning when platforms prioritised profit over user safety by allowing misleading advertisements to reach vulnerable audiences.
She also acknowledged the efforts of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in creating a safer digital environment.
In 2023, MCMC removed 6,297 fraudulent online social media posts. This jumped to 63,652 cases in 2024.
"This increase shows how harmful content is becoming more common, especially with advancements in AI technologies," said Teo.
She said some cases involved AI-generated deepfakes and fake identities of prominent figures like Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, which were used in scams like fake investment schemes.
"The growing use of AI in scams has made fraudulent content more convincing, leading to financial losses, identity theft, and emotional distress. Regulation is urgently needed to prevent the misuse of AI tools," she said.
She also acknowledged MCMC's partnership with the police in launching Op Pedo Bersepadu, a nationwide operation tackling online child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
"This operation resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals in six states and the seizure of approximately 40,000 pieces of CSAM and adult pornography.
"These actions show our commitment to protecting society's most vulnerable members," she said.
The conference, themed "Leaping into the Quantum Frontier: Regulation and Innovation in the Tech Era", was launched by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil yesterday.
The two-day conference, hosted by MCMC, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and global experts from Asean, Australia, the United States, Saudi Arabia and other regions.