Malaysia Takes Legal Action Against Telegram to Curb Harmful Content

Malaysia's communications regulator has successfully secured a temporary court order targeting the messaging platform Telegram. This legal action arises from allegations that Telegram has been disseminating content that contravenes Malaysian law, potentially undermining public trust in national institutions and societal harmony.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) initiated the court order against Telegram after the platform failed to adequately address content that had been repeatedly reported. Specifically, the channels named 'Edisi Siasat' and 'Edisi Khas' were singled out for containing harmful material.

An interim injunction was granted by a Malaysian high court to halt the spread and prevent republishing of such content. While the nature of the harmful content was not disclosed, the MCMC stressed that Telegram will have a fair chance to defend itself. This move aligns with the introduction of a new social media law in Malaysia, intended to combat rising cybercrime.

(With inputs from agencies.)