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Malaysia summons TikTok Management over delays in tackling false news, reports say

Malaysian authorities summoned TikTok’s top management for alleged delays by the social media platform in combating fake news, according to a report from state news agency Bernama on Tuesday. The report was based on a statement made by Malaysia's Communications Minister.

Bernama reported that Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Fahmi Fadzil, said TikTok was too slow to respond to police requests for assistance. He asked the chief executive to help.

Fahmi gave as an example a case in which a man falsely claimed to be a Malaysian pathologist who was involved in the investigation of the death of a Malaysian teen.

Fahmi said that TikTok had been very slow to provide information. "I was forced to call TikTok's CEO Shou zi Chew and tell him that a crime was being committed, and that your organization was extremely slow," Fahmi stated.

We cannot tolerate such an attitude.

Fahmi, according to Bernama, said that TikTok would be summoned on Thursday to the Malaysian Police Headquarters, where both the police chief as well as attorney-general are expected to attend. Malaysia has increased its scrutiny of social media platforms in recent years after reports showed a dramatic increase in harmful content.

Malaysian authorities consider online gambling, scams and child pornography, cyberbullying, content relating to race, religion, and royalty, and cyberbullying as harmful.

Bernama reported that Fahmi also said Meta, which is the parent company for the social media platforms Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram will be summoned to answer questions over the spreading of "immoral content", including paedophilia related imagery.

TikTok, Meta and other social media platforms did not respond immediately to comments.

We will continue the dialogue and remind them that Malaysian Law applies to their platforms and that they must adhere. He said that he would summon all platforms, Bernama reported.

. (Reporting and editing by Sharon Singleton; Rozanna Latiff)

(source: Reuters)