KUALA LUMPUR – Social media platform TikTok has laid off over 400 employees from its content moderation department this week, raising concerns about the regulation of content on the app.
On Saturday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that TikTok’s restructuring follows the parent company, Bytedance Ltd, move to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) for content moderation.
Fahmi acknowledged that AI may be effective for moderating English and Malay content but questioned its capability to handle uploads in vernacular languages, such as Tamil and Chinese dialects.
This is not the first time TikTok has faced scrutiny in Malaysia over its content regulation policies. The company has previously been accused of political bias, and just a few months ago, a cyberbullying incident on the platform resulted in the death of a social media influencer.
Adding to these concerns, on October 26 last year, Fahmi revealed that TikTok had systematically removed or restricted content related to the Palestine-Israel conflict originating from Malaysia.
Users reported to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) that content, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s speech at the “Malaysia Stands with Palestine Rally,” had been taken down.
TikTok’s feedback stated that the removed material included violent images, such as a father carrying his lifeless child, though Fahmi argued that these images were neither gory nor inappropriate.
Fahmi criticised TikTok for these actions, stating, “To me, this doesn’t make sense… I am so mad at TikTok now, and we have sent a message to make them understand.”
The minister reiterated that freedom of expression, particularly on issues related to Palestine, should not be restricted.
TikTok’s impact on Malaysia’s political scene
Research conducted by Inti University & College has shown that TikTok has become a significant platform for political content in Malaysia, particularly during the 15th General Election and the 2023 state elections.
Meanwhile, an article in East Asia Forum suggested that PAS’s success in winning the most seats during the 2022 national elections in the northern states might be attributed to the party’s use of third-party accounts on TikTok, which garnered millions of views for their campaigns.
Despite the platform’s influence on Malaysia’s political landscape, TikTok has been criticised for failing to regulate racially and politically charged content.
A report by MalayMail in 2022 revealed that typing “May 13” in TikTok’s search bar still displayed content inciting violence related to the national election. This raised concerns about the platform’s content moderation policy, which was also marred by accusations of political bias.
Last year, allegations emerged that TikTok was biased towards the opposition after it was revealed that a Selangor PAS division information chief was employed within the platform’s moderation team. Netizens questioned whether the presence of Perikatan Nasional (PN) members and supporters in TikTok’s moderation ranks contributed to certain users experiencing a decline in viewership.
In response to these allegations, TikTok denied that its moderators could influence content visibility and stated that its staff had no access to promotional tools for content. The company also reiterated that it does not allow paid political advertisements promoting or opposing candidates, leaders, or parties.
Influencer’s suicide highlights need for social media regulation
The suicide of influencer Rajeswary Appahu, also known as Esha, has cast further doubt on TikTok’s ability to monitor content and live sessions. The 29-year-old single mother took her own life after being subjected to cyberbullying on the platform.
A week before her death, Esha had been released from police remand following a complaint by independent preacher Zamri Vintoh Kalimuthu, who alleged that someone had insulted Islam during one of her TikTok live sessions.
Although Esha herself did not make the offensive remarks, she became the target of verbal abuse from other users. Several individuals have since been prosecuted for their obscene and insulting comments towards her.
In the wake of Esha’s death, Fahmi announced that TikTok had expanded its moderation team to cover content in vernacular languages, such as Tamil. The tragedy has also prompted the government to propose new regulations for social media companies.
On July 27, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that all major social media platforms operating in Malaysia would be required to obtain a licence. This move is aimed at creating a safer internet regulatory framework for children and families, with plans to implement it by January next year.
When questioned by Channel News Asia about the licensing requirement, Fahmi said that Esha’s death was the “straw that broke the camel’s back,” leading the government to intervene to prevent future cases of cyberbullying and online fraud. – October 13, 2024