15/01/2026

THURSDAY | JAN 15, 2026

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Govt to meet social media platform over concerns on chatbot Grok

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

to certain provisions of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 following his conviction for organising an assembly without prior notice. He said the move follows last week’s Cabinet decision to amend the Act, raising the question of whether it remains appropriate to continue with a court challenge. “The Cabinet has agreed in principle to amend the Act. The matter has been referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to consider whether it is appropriate to proceed with the judicial review.” Fahmi added that the government’s position remains clear: amendments to the Act will be pursued as a matter of policy.

and children. He added that enforcement action would follow, noting that while X has responded, the reply was “inadequate” and amounted to a pro forma statement. Grok was temporarily blocked in Malaysia on Sunday after alleged misuse to produce obscene, sexually explicit, indecent and non-consensual manipulated images, including content involving minors and women. Separately, Fahmi said the Cabinet has decided to refer to the Attorney-General’s Chambers the question of whether to proceed with a judicial review related to the Amir Hariri Abd Hadi case. The case involves a constitutional challenge

they have reached out to X to try to hold a meeting next week,” he said yesterday. “There are a few matters that need to be finalised, but engagement is ongoing and we are awaiting final confirmation,” he told reporters after the Communications Ministry’s weekly media briefing. The engagement comes amid heightened scrutiny over Grok, following concerns that content generated by the AI system may contravene Malaysian laws and regulations. On Tuesday, Fahmi said MCMC is preparing to take legal action against X over Grok, which has been linked to the generation of obscene and offensive content, particularly involving women

PETALING JAYA: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil yesterday said the government expects to meet social media platform X next week over concerns surrounding Grok, the AI chatbot developed by the company. He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been in contact with X to arrange the meeting, although several matters need to be finalised before it takes place. “As of 10am today, MCMC informed me that Discontent with X over content moderation Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH AND HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are growing increasingly disillusioned with social media platform X, accusing it of poor content moderation and allowing harmful material to proliferate since its rebranding from Twitter. Longtime user Kamaruddzamman opined that the platform deteriorated sharply following the change in ownership and name. “Ever since the platform changed its name to X, and with all the controversies surrounding its ownership, the whole site has just gone downhill,” he said. “What used to be fun, interactive and genuinely engaging is now almost unrecognisable. “The site is basically flooded with vulgar and soft porn content and there is almost no moderation.” He said the apparent lack of oversight has enabled almost anyone to post anything, with objectionable material spreading rapidly. “It is shocking how quickly a space that was once lively and informative turned into something so unsafe and chaotic,” he said, pointing to the rise of casual racism, bullying and harassment. “People can just target anyone and get away with it because there is little oversight. This is not just annoying or frustrating, it is also socially harmful.” Kamaruddzamman warned that young people, teenagers and other vulnerable groups are particularly at risk. “Being exposed to this content repeatedly could influence how people think, behave and even how they view relationships or society. “For a country such as Malaysia, where social cohesion and responsible online engagement are important, this is deeply worrying.” Another user, Erina, voiced support for the government’s consideration of legal action against the platform. “The problem goes way beyond a few harmful posts here and there. It is about the bigger picture; pornographic material, harassment, cyberbullying and a culture of abuse that could affect real-life behaviour.” She added that X must take responsibility for conditions on its platform. “Taking legal action is not just symbolic, it also sends a clear message that negligence and lack of accountability will not be tolerated. “It is a step towards making the platform safer and more responsible. People deserve to interact and share ideas without worrying about harmful content. If X wants to survive, it needs to clean up its act,” she said.

‘Digital trials needed before allowing AI tools in country’ o Without rigorous safety testing, users vulnerable to harassment, exploitation and blackmail: Lecturer meaning individuals or groups who intentionally cause digital harm, consistently stay ahead.

“Attackers use slang, misspellings or coded language to evade filters. Every time one trick is blocked, a new one appears and dangerous material continues to leak through.” He also said blocking access or legal action is not a perfect solution but remains necessary. “Blocks are not a perfect cure, as users can bypass them with VPNs, but they are important speed bumps. “They force tech giants to slow down and face accountability. The goal is not to push harm underground, but to make it harder to create and impossible to spread.” From a sociological perspective, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Anthropology and Sociology senior lecturer Dr Velan Kunjuraman warned that poorly moderated platforms risk reshaping social norms and values. “When a platform such as X is widely used for pornographic content and fails to moderate harmful material, it may normalise harmful behaviour, weaken shared moral norms and increase tolerance towards misinformation, harassment and exploitation.” He added that Malaysia’s international image could suffer as the country’s reputation as a religious nation may be undermined. He said young people and other vulnerable groups are especially at risk. “Unmoderated explicit content could affect mental wellbeing, distort understanding of relationships and sexuality, and increase exposure to online risks and exploitation. “Young adults and underage users are easily influenced and may be drawn into immoral activities.” He warned that prolonged exposure to explicit material could desensitise users and shift attitudes towards sexuality and relationships, with public protests possible if such content continues unchecked. He urged authorities to act decisively, saying regulators must enforce accountability to protect users, uphold local values and ensure safer digital spaces. “Stronger enforcement could build public trust and social wellbeing,” he added, noting that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission may introduce new policies to address similar issues in the future.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia should require a digital “crash test” trial before allowing AI tools and social media platforms to operate in the country, as weak safeguards are increasingly enabling the spread of explicit and harmful content online. Universiti Malaya Computer Systems and Technology lecturer Prof Dr Ainuddin Wahid Abdul Wahab warned that platforms deploying AI tools without rigorous safety testing expose users, particularly women and minors, to serious risks, including harassment, exploitation and blackmail. He stressed that companies must prove their systems are safe rather than let people rely on voluntary assurances. “At minimum, this means pre-launch safety testing, strict age protections and clear channels for victims to report abuse. “If a platform cannot demonstrate fast response times and regular independent audits to prevent harm, it should not be allowed on our digital roads.” His comments come amid growing scrutiny Ű BY HARITH KAMAL AND KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

of X, on which explicit material and AI-generated content, including those produced via its AI tool Grok, have drawn criticism from Malaysian authorities, prompting discussions on possible legal action. Ainuddin Wahid highlighted “jailbreaking” as a major vulnerability in AI systems, in which users deliberately manipulate tools to bypass built-in restrictions. “It is like tricking a librarian into handing over a forbidden book. “Many tools also lack proper checks on who is using them or how often. This turns the AI into an unsupervised printer for abuse.” He warned that once safety locks are breached, harmful content could be generated and spread at massive scale before platforms are able to respond. “Weak safeguards are like leaving a loaded gun on a park bench—anyone can pick it up and use it. “Just one photo and a name can be turned into fake explicit images or blackmail material in seconds. The damage spreads fast and is incredibly hard to remove.” He said while platforms often rely on detection and filtering systems, threat actors,

Velan warned that poorly moderated platforms risk reshaping social norms and values.

– MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

Malaysia to be directly involved in Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Madani government would be directly involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 humanitarian mission involving more than 80 countries. international moral struggle that requires courage in upholding justice and humanitarian rights, regardless of borders, race or religion.

uncertainty and the continued suffering of the Palestinian people. During the meeting, Sani and Nadir also shared the achievements of the Sumud Nusantara mission, which broke global silence and amplified Gaza’s voice on the international stage. – Bernama

Earlier, Anwar received a courtesy call from Sumud Nusantara Command Centre director-general Datuk Sani Araby and Sumud Nusantara founder Nadir Al-Nuri. He said he was briefed on the increasingly dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, stemming from a prolonged aid blockade, ongoing conflict

“We will mobilise all our efforts to assist and defend the rights of the Palestinian people. Justice can no longer be delayed in the pursuit of a dignified and independent Palestine.”

He said the government’s direct participation in the mission represents a continuation of the