Fahmi: Number of fake accounts spreading 3R content on the rise

KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications Ministry has detected a rise in the use of fake accounts on social media to spread content related to religion, race and royalty (3R), including impersonation of rulers and members of royal families.

Its minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, said many of these accounts were created specifically to produce and spread 3R content and once these are spread, the accounts are taken down.

“Many fake accounts are being created, particularly to generate 3R content and after the content is produced and disseminated, the accounts are then taken down.

“There has been an increase (in 3R cases) recently, but we are not only looking at the content.

“We are looking at the issue of fake accounts that use the images and names of rulers and royal families,” he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the Youth Festival held in conjunction with the 2026 National Youth Day celebration for the Federal Territories here today.

Asked whether the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 would be amended to curb the issue, Fahmi said the existing law was sufficient to deal with harmful online content.

He said the main challenge was curbing the actions of irresponsible parties who create fake accounts on social media platforms to spread sensitive content.

As such, he urged social media platform operators to curb the proliferation of fake and impersonation accounts, including issues related to 3R.

“Some (platforms) have been issued notices of demand by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, such as TikTok, while others, such as Meta, have cooperated.

“However, we see that these platforms need to clearly state the steps they will take to reduce incidents involving 3R content,” he said.

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المصدر: New Straits Times