KUALA LUMPUR – TikTok received more than 1,000 complaints on videos allegedly depicting coordinated inauthentic behaviour tactics in the days after tensions rose over convenience store chain KK Mart’s sale of “Allah”-printed socks.
In a press conference here today, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said over an approximately one-week period, the platform provider had recorded 1,400 reports on the matter – a staggering figure compared to the 1,800 monthly reports it normally received.
“We’ve received some information on coordinated inauthentic behaviour (tactics online) and influence operations, where one message is shared repeatedly on a platform by numerous unidentifiable accounts.
“There’s a possibility that there are certain quarters taking advantage of the situation to incite some sort of perception on social media sites.
“Since the KK Mart issue (incited controversy), TikTok has received 1,400 reports between March 13 and 21. Out of the total figure, 19% were found to have violated its community guidelines while 53% were detected to be against laws.”
He also said his ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) would continue to monitor conditions online to ensure that while social media users were afforded their right to free speech, no laws would be broken in the process.
Fahmi added that the MCMC would look into claims that an individual, who was hauled to court over a Facebook post on the “Allah”-printed socks issue, had previously been doxxed.
Doxxing means publishing someone’s personal information online without their permission.
“We take seriously any actions which expose personally identifiable information. (People are protected) under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010.
“Don’t take the law into your own hands (and) expose other people’s information (as) this is a violation of the act. Leave it up to authorities to take action (against alleged wrongdoings).”
Earlier today, 34-year-old Chiok Wai Loong pleaded guilty in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court to a charge framed under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, leading to him being sentenced to six months’ jail and fined RM12,000.
Prior to his arrest yesterday, a video of a group of men surrounding Chiok and demanding for his apology made the rounds on social media, with the sole non-Malay man apologising and promising not to insult other religions again.
Chiok is the second individual to be charged amid the furore over the socks, with the first man in Kota Kinabalu receiving a six-month jail term and a RM15,000-fine yesterday.
There are currently calls for Muslim consumers to boycott KK Mart stores, with videos emerging on social media showing individuals staging protests and confronting store staff in some locations.
Following public outrage, KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri K.K. Chai apologised profusely at a press conference last weekend, with the store’s outlets opting to express their regret in the form of banners outside stores and messages at their counters.
Meanwhile, KK Mart’s local supplier, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, had also apologised for an oversight in its quality control process, saying it had done its best to ensure that all 18,800 socks received from its vendor in China were cleared for sale here. – March 22, 2024