Malaysia Orders TikTok to Address Defamatory Content About King

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission has issued a formal order to TikTok, demanding an explanation for the platform’s failure to adequately address content targeting the country’s royal institution. The regulator cited the recent proliferation of material it described as “grossly offensive, false, menacing and insulting,” noting that this content includes manipulated imagery and AI-generated videos.

The directive follows the circulation of digital content that falsely claimed an association with King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar. According to the regulator, the spread of such material touches upon sensitive national issues, specifically race, religion, and royalty, which the commission warned may undermine public order and national harmony.

The commission stated that it had previously engaged with TikTok regarding these concerns, but characterized the platform’s response as unsatisfactory. The regulator noted that TikTok’s moderation efforts—specifically regarding the prompt removal of prohibited content and the prevention of its further dissemination—failed to meet expectations.

Under the terms of the legal notice, TikTok is required to provide a detailed explanation regarding its moderation failures. The company has been instructed to implement immediate remedial measures, including an upgrade to its content moderation mechanisms and more rigorous enforcement against material that violates Malaysian law and established community standards.

The Communications and Multimedia Commission emphasized that social media platforms operating within Malaysia are expected to exercise greater responsibility in preventing the dissemination of unlawful and harmful activities on their services. As of the current reporting, TikTok has not issued a public statement regarding the case or the specific legal notice received from the commission.