KUALA LUMPUR: Meta’s handling of online scam and paedophile groups is concerning and gives the impression that the social media giant is defending such groups, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
“They will give all sorts of excuses, but for me, the safety of Malaysians, especially children and families, is non-negotiable,” Fahmi said.
His comments came amid discussions between the government and tech conglomerate Meta on the regulation of harmful online content.
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“I’ve read that Meta is asking for more time, but honestly, we cannot afford to give more time to scammers and paedophile groups that are now rampant.
“We’ve received reports about the existence of paedophilia groups on Facebook, some with hundreds or even tens of thousands of members, groups that have been operating for decades.
“So why is Meta defending these scam and paedophile groups?” he said when met at the Madani Deepavali celebration here on Thursday (Oct 31).
Fahmi added that the government has already directed Meta to obtain the necessary licences and warned against delays.
He also refuted Meta’s claim that discussions had not taken place, highlighting meetings held since the beginning of the year, including his visit to Singapore for talks with Meta representatives.
In a separate comment, Fahmi dismissed speculation over plans to tax ChatGPT subscriptions.
He clarified that the government has not discussed any proposal to impose such a tax, either within the Cabinet or in Parliament.
“Any tax would need parliamentary approval, not just Cabinet-level discussion. This was not mentioned in Budget 2025 by the Prime Minister, so for me, it’s not something to entertain,” he said.
