Meta, the umbrella company for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp platforms, is facing a new legal process. The company’s inadequacy in dealing with harmful content on its social media network, specifically on Facebook, has led to the filing of the lawsuit. Here are the details:
Legal action initiated against Meta
The Malaysian government, which came to power in November, took action to prevent provocations as promised during the election process. The administration, after determining the widespread presence of social media posts containing provocative religious and racial discourse on the Facebook platform, expressed that Meta’s efforts in combating such harmful content were highly insufficient. Government officials stated that punitive measures would be taken against the company through legal proceedings and emphasized their determination to combat provocation.
Social media users in Malaysia are predominantly active on Facebook. Aware of this situation, the government scrutinized the popular social media platform. The government commission repeatedly warned Meta regarding racist discourse, posts that undermine religious values, and illegal advertisements promoting online gambling. Despite these warnings, the government commission declared that the measures taken were inadequate and decided to take the matter to court.
Meta has not yet made a statement about the decision taken by the Malaysian government, and it remains unknown what steps the company will take in the later stages of the process. The outcome of the lawsuit, which the government believes demonstrates a conscious practice of ignoring harmful content, is a matter of great curiosity. What are your thoughts on this matter? Doesn’t the Malaysian government’s sensitivity towards social media seem familiar to you? Feel free to share your opinions with us through the comments section.