Malaysia’s communications regulator has ordered TikTok to take immediate action against what it described as “offensive and defamatory” content targeting the country’s royal family, according to reports by Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said on Thursday that the directive followed the spread of controversial content from an account allegedly associated with King Sultan Ibrahim.
In a statement, the regulator instructed the video-sharing platform to implement “immediate remedial measures” and strengthen its moderation policies to prevent the circulation of harmful materials involving the monarchy.
The MCMC also demanded a formal explanation from TikTok over its alleged failure to curb the spread of “highly offensive, false, threatening and insulting” content, including AI-generated videos and manipulated images related to the royal family.
TikTok, owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance, did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the matter.
Malaysia, a constitutional monarchy, maintains strict laws concerning the royal institution. Under the Sedition Act of 1948, any speech or publication deemed to incite “hatred or contempt” against the royal family can be treated as a criminal offence.
The latest move reflects growing concerns among governments worldwide over the misuse of artificial intelligence and social media platforms to spread misinformation, defamatory content and digitally altered media targeting public figures and state institutions.
