Malaysia to summon social media firms over 'inappropriate' ads

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Malaysian government will summon social media firms to discuss "inappropriate" ads on their platforms, the country’s communications and digital minister said on Thursday.

Fahmi Fadzil said the talks aim to clarify "inappropriate and offensive" advertisements with sexual content, Kuala Lumpur-based Free Malaysia Today reported.

“Various social media platforms have their own algorithms. That’s why the issue of algorithms is quite problematic and can result in a kind of tunnel syndrome or echo chamber,” he said.

He also stated that 147 hate speeches related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict were removed in collaboration with social media platforms between Oct. 1 and Nov. 15.

The government "would continue to preserve the security and harmony of Malaysia’s multicultural and multi-religious society," he added.