Malaysia is weighing possible legal action against Facebook due to the platform's lack of cooperation in addressing widespread online scams, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced on May 24, 2026. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been tasked to engage Facebook and give it a final chance to cooperate before any further steps are taken [1, 2].
Between January 1 and May 23, 2026, MCMC submitted 271,472 takedown requests across all online platforms targeting harmful content, 91% of which involved scams and online gambling. Facebook was linked to 81% of online gambling content and 58% of online scam content identified in these takedown efforts [1, 3, 2].
In 2025, Malaysians lost an estimated RM2.7 billion to scams. Bank Negara Malaysia blocked RM1.2 billion in scam-related transactions that year [2]. Datuk Fahmi said, "Maybe we might take legal action (against Facebook). We leave it to MCMC to contact and discuss with them, and give them a chance to prove that they want to work with the government" [2].
The government plans to propose the creation of a committee comprising telecommunications companies, banks, enforcement agencies, and regulators to strengthen anti-scam efforts. If necessary, a council to specifically address online scams may also be established. Fahmi stated, "This is important to ensure the safety of Malaysians when they go online. We will bring this proposal to the cabinet in the coming weeks. If needed, we will also establish a council to address online scams" [2].
In addition, MCMC recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (Gasa) to coordinate efforts against scams [2]. Fahmi emphasized the need for unified action, saying, "If we take coordinated action, we will be able to tackle this issue. We hope all online platforms will cooperate with MCMC. We need to raise more awareness about anti-scam measures to inform the rakyat. We should work together and send one clear message to the public. The rakyat should immediately report if they have been scammed" [2].
The government is awaiting Facebook’s response following MCMC’s engagement. A cabinet discussion on the proposed anti-scam committee and council is expected in the coming weeks [2].
