• Malaysia's MCMC demands TikTok improve moderation after fake account insults the king.
• Content included AI-generated videos and manipulated images deemed offensive.
• The order follows previous unsatisfactory actions by TikTok regarding harmful content.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has formally demanded that TikTok take immediate action to address fake accounts disseminating offensive and defamatory content about the country's monarchy. This action follows the appearance of a fake account claiming to be associated with King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar that posted AI-generated materials featuring insulting imagery and statements, such as falsely alleging that the king ate pork, which is deeply sensitive in Islam, Malaysia's predominant religion, according to SCMP, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

MCMC's statement emphasized that TikTok had not acted sufficiently upon previous alerts concerning this harmful content, highlighting that the posts were “grossly offensive, false, menacing, and insulting” to the royal institution. The regulator insists that social media platforms bear the responsibility to moderate content that threatens public order, especially concerning significant matters of race, religion, and royalty, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

Following the MCMC's demands, TikTok is required to strengthen its moderation policies and issue a formal explanation detailing its previous failures to act against the impersonation account. The Malaysian government has taken steps in recent years to increase scrutiny over social media platforms, reflecting growing concerns over online misinformation and harmful content. Reports indicate that the MCMC has previously requested the removal of numerous posts linked to such issues, revealing a larger context of regulatory measures, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

Moreover, the Malaysian government has announced intentions to further regulate social media, including a proposed ban on social media accounts for those under 16. These measures relate to broader governmental efforts to curb online risks associated with scams, cyberbullying, and misinformation. Under Malaysian law, disseminating content that incites hatred or contempt against the royal family can result in penalties, signaling the seriousness of the issue at hand, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.