TikTok's Compliance With Malaysian Laws "Unsatisfactory," Says Malaysia's Minister

TikTok is currently facing challenges in achieving full compliance with Malaysian laws. This necessitates a more proactive approach to addressing the proliferation of fake news on this popular social media platform.

These concerns were recently expressed by Malaysia's Communications Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, who emphasized the need for immediate rectification.

TikTok Fails to Comply With Malaysian Laws

Getting under scrutiny is TikTok's business and it's not the first time that the video-sharing platform has been criticized because it fails to curb misleading content.

According to Bloomberg, Minister Fahmi had a crucial meeting with TikTok's top management, spearheaded by Global Vice-President Helena Lersch.

During this meeting, several pressing issues were brought to the forefront, including the company's e-commerce operations in Malaysia, the growing problem of fake news dissemination on its platform, and the accessibility of purchase advertisements.

One of the primary concerns voiced by Minister Fahmi revolved around TikTok's e-commerce activities within Malaysia. The minister sought clarification and assurance that these operations align with the country's legal framework and regulations, ensuring a fair and secure digital marketplace for users.

When it comes to misleading news, the rampant spread of fake content on TikTok's platform is another critical issue that requires immediate attention. Minister Fahmi stressed the importance of implementing robust measures to curb the dissemination of false information, which can have far-reaching consequences.

Advertisements Accessibility on TikTok

The ease of purchasing advertisements on TikTok's site was also discussed during the meeting, per Reuters. Malaysia expects that this process is transparent, compliant with Malaysian advertising regulations, and accessible to a wide range of businesses is a priority.

TikTok Under Fire in Southeast Asia

Time recently reported that Vietnam is planning to investigate TikTok's violation of its laws. According to the authorities, the censorship on the platform is a total failure to weed out content that is dangerous in many aspects.

Authorities accused TikTok of allowing "toxic" content that is deemed to be a threat to the culture and tradition of Vietnam.

They also urged the platform to revamp its method of protecting children by removing all user accounts below 13 years of age. Additionally, they wanted TikTok to set a time limit for users under 18 years old.

The ByteDance-owned app said that it would comply with Vietnamese laws and improve awareness about child safety.

Last month, Indonesia officially banned all e-commerce transactions on TikTok. The move suggests that promotions are still allowed on social media, but purchasing items is off-limits.

Indonesia also restricted the buying and selling of products and services on Facebook. The country's Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan said that it would help the use of personal information for commercial means.

Outside Asia, US senators were questioning TikTok for hiring Chinese executives.