KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 10,423 websites were blocked for legal violations between January 1, 2022, and August 1, 2024.
In a statement today, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said 95.7% of the blocked websites fell into five main categories: online gambling (4,484 sites), pornography (3,271), copyright infringement (1,654), scams or illegal investments (316), and prostitution (249 sites).
The MCMC reported that the highest number of website blocks for harmful online content in the past five years occurred in 2021, with 6,571 blocks.
However, this number has since declined, reaching 2,127 blocks as of August 2024, it said.
These blocks are implemented under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and other relevant laws enforced by agencies such as the police force, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Securities Commission.
In a broader sense, the MCMC noted that these website blocks also play a role in combating crimes like human trafficking, child exploitation, the sale of illegal substances and other organised criminal activities.
To keep these blocks effective and up-to-date with technological advancements, the MCMC is dedicated to collaborating with local service providers to enhance and reinforce preventive and protective measures, such as Domain Name System (DNS) management.
“The MCMC’s collaboration with service providers ensures a safer online environment, thereby safeguarding users across all levels,” it said, adding that these efforts also align with the 10 National Policy Objectives under the CMA 1998, including ensuring information security, reliability, and network integrity.
The MCMC also emphasised that achieving these goals requires a comprehensive national approach, involving all segments of society to prevent the circumvention of existing protection mechanisms, which could adversely affect individuals and families, particularly teenagers and children. – August 8, 2024