Your hub for Malaysian news, trends and culture.
A 15-year-old plaintiff in a closely watched case has abandoned his lawsuit against Meta Platforms on the eve of trial. The withdrawal, following settlements with YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, raises questions about the viability of thousands of pending claims linking social media to youth mental health crises.
Six female students appeared in Kota Kinabalu's Court for Children, facing rioting charges connected to an incident outside a secondary school that sparked viral social media attention.
France has passed groundbreaking legislation making it the first European Union country to ban social media for children under 15, with Digital Affairs Minister Anne Le Henanff citing child protection priorities.
Six schoolgirls aged 12 to 16 have been charged with rioting following a violent incident at a Sabah school that sparked widespread online outrage. All have pleaded not guilty.
Authorities have apprehended four 14-year-old boys in relation to an assault that left another teenager gravely hurt in Cheras, with the incident gaining widespread attention online.
Police have remanded a 52-year-old man for two days in connection with allegations that he made insulting remarks about Negri Sembilan's royal institution on social media, marking another case of royal insult investigations.
Negeri Sembilan police have arrested a man over an alleged social media post insulting the state's royal family. His mobile phone was seized as part of the investigation.
YouTube has appealed a landmark court verdict that found the platform negligent in contributing to a young woman's social media addiction and mental health decline, with jurors awarding US$3 million in damages.
The Malaysian Army has issued a statement disputing rape allegations against one of its members that circulated on social media, asserting that internal investigations reached different conclusions.
Malaysia's Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) has confirmed that a viral marriage letter circulating on social media contains a fabricated reference number and was never issued by any Islamic religious body in the country.
Australia's online regulator has flagged a sharp rise in sexual extortion targeting young men through social media, with Instagram and WhatsApp as primary vectors. The findings raise concerns for similar vulnerabilities across Southeast Asia.
Meta has filed an appeal against a Los Angeles jury verdict finding it liable for designing addictive social media platforms that harmed a young user's mental health. The company faces mounting legal challenges globally.
Police in Perlis have arrested a social media influencer on suspicion of committing rape and creating indecent photographs of a 14-year-old girl. The alleged offences occurred at a private residence in Taman Kangar.
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into Meta's Instagram and Facebook, alleging their designs are deliberately addictive. The tech giant faces potential fines of up to €12 billion if it fails to implement required changes.
Malaysia's Election Commission will intensify its review of cases involving voters who share photos of marked ballot papers on social media, raising concerns about electoral integrity and privacy.
The Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur has imposed an RM11,000 fine on blogger Jufazli Shi Ahmad for posting offensive content targeting former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Umno on social media.
The European Commission has formally charged Meta with breaching digital regulations by deploying addictive features on Instagram and Facebook. Regulators demand changes to autoplay, infinite scroll, and recommendation systems, threatening fines of up to 6% of annual turnover.
A political activist has been fined RM11,000 by a Sessions court for posting offensive content on TikTok targeting former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri. The judge warned of potential jail time for future similar violations.
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Malaysia's Social Welfare Department has urged the public to stop sharing children's identities on social media, warning of legal penalties up to RM10,000 and five years imprisonment under the Child Act 2001.
Malaysia's Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has called on social media platforms to strengthen their fight against election misinformation, particularly on polling day, warning of risks to voter confidence.
Meta has disclosed that four US states are pursuing $1.4 trillion in penalties in an upcoming trial over claims the company deliberately made its platforms addictive to young users. The figure approaches Meta's market value.
Content creator Marissa Dania has firmly rejected suggestions that she has pushed her mother Abby Abadi aside in favour of her father Norman Hakim and stepmother Memey Suhaiza, calling for restraint in public judgment.
Malaysian police have cautioned the public against resharing an outdated dispute involving the dawn azan at Sungai Buloh that has recently regained traction on social media platforms.
Malaysia's police have urged residents to refrain from amplifying a stale dispute centred on claims that dawn prayer calls were disturbing sleep patterns in Sungai Buloh, after the matter gained renewed traction online.
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Police in Tawau have detained 10 teenage boys for questioning following the emergence of a social media video depicting the alleged assault of four school students, triggering significant public reaction across the region.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has publicly refuted claims that a person appearing in a viral social media post is employed by the agency, addressing widespread online speculation.
Malaysia's Communications Ministry is evaluating compliance among licensed social media platforms with two codes under the Online Safety Act 2025, which took effect on June 1, says Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching.
TikTok has settled with a Florida teenager who alleged the platform's addictive features damaged his mental health, marking another milestone in escalating US litigation against social media companies over youth addiction.
FIFA's Social Media Protection Service uncovered a dramatic 13-fold increase in abusive posts during the recent World Cup group stage compared to Qatar 2022, with racial abuse comprising 11% of detected offensive messages. Over 89,000 posts required action.
TikTok has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by a 15-year-old Florida boy who claimed the platform's addictive design harmed his mental health. The move comes as thousands of similar cases pile up across US courts.
TikTok has settled a lawsuit brought by a minor alleging the platform harmed his mental health. The agreement comes as similar cases against Instagram and Snapchat proceed to trial in California.
Three Dutch footballers who missed penalties in Monday's World Cup defeat by Morocco have been subjected to racist abuse on social media, prompting the Dutch football association to file a formal report.
A US federal judge has rejected Meta's attempt to dismiss a major lawsuit filed by state attorneys general, who allege the tech giant deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children while hiding documented harms.
Australia will introduce legislation this week to bolster its under-16 social media ban and equip its internet regulator with enhanced powers to take tech companies to court for violations.
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Musician Chegubard has pleaded not guilty to sedition charges in Seremban Sessions Court following a social media post concerning Negeri Sembilan's royal institution. The case highlights ongoing tensions between free speech and laws protecting monarchical institutions.
Communications Minister Fahmi Serigar warned social media companies they must implement age-verification systems under Malaysia's new Online Safety Act 2025 or face penalties up to RM10 million.
Ireland's leadership of the EU presidency signals growing support for restricting children's social media use, with momentum building across European capitals for measures targeting under-16s online.
YouTube has settled a lawsuit filed by a Florida teenager alleging the platform damaged his mental health through addictive design. The move comes as thousands of cases against major social media companies progress through US courts, with juries already ordering substantial damages.
The Dewan Rakyat convenes for a 16-day sitting with legislators set to examine Johor's water resource expansion, the Malaysia Competition Commission's market monitoring capabilities, and safeguards around social media age verification systems.
The Royal Malaysian Police has opened a formal disciplinary investigation into an officer featured in a viral video from China, where he allegedly made insulting remarks toward local residents during his overseas trip.
The European Commission is escalating its investigation into Meta, preparing preliminary findings that accuse Facebook and Instagram of deploying design features deliberately engineered to addict children and teenagers to their platforms.
Johor police have opened an investigation into a physical assault captured on video at a Gelang Patah food establishment. The footage showing a woman being attacked has rapidly spread across social media, prompting law enforcement intervention.
A Thai court has handed down an 18-month prison sentence to a man for posting a comment in a Facebook group discussing the monarchy, according to a rights advocacy organization.
The United Arab Emirates has announced a cabinet-backed social media ban for children under 15, positioning itself as the first Arab nation to adopt such a measure. Platforms have 12 months to implement age verification systems or face potential blocking.
A US appeals court has upheld Ohio's requirement for social media companies to obtain parental consent before allowing children under 16 to use their platforms, in a significant victory for child protection advocates.
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The Regent of Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra, has met with Foreign Minister Fahmi to discuss the proliferation of fraudulent social media accounts and other matters of concern to the state.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris has firmly rejected involvement in a poster promoting registration of new Muslim converts that went viral on social media, stating it was circulated without official authorisation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will announce a ban on social media use for under-16s and introduce new online safety measures, before heading to a Group of Seven summit in France.
Florida has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, accusing the platform of breaking state child protection laws by permitting underage users to open accounts and exposing them to harmful content.