MCMC targets multiple porn, phishing and gambling sites

OVER 2,000 porn and phishing websites have been blocked by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) from Jan 1 to Aug 31 this year, says Fahmi Fadzil (pic).

In a written reply to Datuk Wan Saifulruddin Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor), Fahmi said MCMC had blocked these websites to ensure no laws are breached.

“A total of 1,022 porn websites and 1,247 phishing websites were blocked during this period,” he said, adding that the action was taken by enforcement agencies such as MCMC, the police, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN), the Health Ministry and the Securities Commission Malaysia.

Apart from this, a total of 3,997 other websites were also blocked by enforcement authorities, with these including online gambling websites (453), websites that breach copyright laws (453), those with hate speech (17), those offering controlled drugs or cosmetics (38), controlled food products (30), controlled medicine (three), contain criminal defamation (one), as well as those promoting prostitution (83), money lending (12) and illegal business programmes (two).

There are also those that breached trademark laws (26), divulged personal data (six) and offer illegal stock and equities trading (78).

“MCMC has also blocked a total of 11,949 social media accounts for violating social media policies and laws in the country,” he said.

The accounts blocked in the same period included 7,026 online gambling accounts, 1,842 scam accounts and 1,263 accounts involved in bullying and harassment.

Other social media accounts that were blocked include porn accounts (506), accounts with fake content (722), fake accounts (157), accounts that were threatening (27), inappropriate accounts (one) and other violations (405).

“Efforts to block these accounts are non-negotiable and follow terms and conditions set by the social media platforms involved,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a written reply to Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (BN-Libaran), Fahmi said a total of 156 unverified news that touched on race, royalty and religion (3R) and the Prime Minister had been identified since Dec 1, 2022.

“The police opened a total of 66 investigation papers against fake news and 3R issues, and have solved 41 cases, while another 25 cases are still under investigation by the police, Attorney General’s Chambers and MCMC,” Fahmi said.

On a related matter, Fahmi added that several initiatives had been carried out to educate the public to fact-check any news before sharing them with other people.

“MCMC has a fact-checking portal called Sebenarnya.my, while RTM has a television and radio programme called Pastikan Sahih every Monday to Thursday.“RTM also has a one-minute long segment called Biar Betul! which airs every day during the Kanta 744 slot at 7.44pm,” he added.

Fahmi also shared about MCMC’s nationwide programme Klik Dengan Bijak which looks to teach the elderly and youth about the dangers of fake news.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/11/over-2000-websites-blocked