Malaysia Sues Telegram For Spread Of Hazardous Content In Channels

JAKARTA - The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has sued Telegram on a civil basis. The institution is known to have filed a lawsuit because of the problem of spreading harmful content.

Reporting from Reuters, the messaging platform has two channels that are accused of threatening public order and eroding public confidence in public institutions. The two channels in question are the Special Strategy and Edition Edition.

The Special Strategy and Edition Edition is an anonymous Telegram channel created to target public institutions and law enforcement agencies. Posts on the two channels often get attention and trigger public debate.

MCMC stated that the two channels broadcast news that violated the 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act. The agency also filed a lawsuit against Telegram because it had contacted the platform several times.

"This step was taken after Telegram failed to handle content that had been repeatedly reported to him, despite various efforts to negotiate and cooperate by MCMC," MCMC wrote in its lawsuit, quoted on Thursday, June 19.

The communication agency also explained that this was the first time they had taken action against social media violations. This is also done because Telegram has been allowed to operate in Malaysia so the application must comply with local rules.

"This marks the first action taken against social media platform providers, especially as Telegram holds an application service (class) license," explains MCMC.

MCMC also revealed that it had obtained an interim order from the High Court to stop the spread of material in the two channels. This order was issued so that the distribution of offensive material could be stopped.