Content Writer: Janice Chew • Monday, 25/09/2025 - 20:43:45 - PM
Malaysia’s Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has announced a meeting with Meta executives on September 22, 2025, to confront what the government says is a surge in illegal online gambling advertisements and content on Facebook. The minister emphasized that many of the gambling-related posts taken down are just a small portion of what remains visible, and raised concerns about Facebook’s alleged failure to block payment methods (credit cards, etc.) used to promote content that is clearly illegal under Malaysian law.
Under Malaysian legislation, online gambling is broadly prohibited, with laws such as the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and the Betting Act 1953, as well as regulations from the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), forbidding gambling advertisements. The government’s complaint is that Meta has not been sufficiently proactive in enforcing these prohibitions—both in terms of content moderation and limiting financial transactions linked to illegal gambling promotions.
While enforcement against online gambling content has been part of Malaysia’s regulatory landscape for some time—such as taking down social media accounts, blocking gambling-websites, and cracking down on influencers promoting gambling apps —this upcoming dialogue with Meta signals a sharper push. It suggests the government wants not just reactionary takedowns, but systemic changes: more preventive measures, more responsibility on platforms to detect and deny illicit ads (including via payment channels), and clearer accountability. The outcome of the September meeting could set important precedents for how Malaysia balances digital freedom, platform responsibility, and regulation in the age of pervasive social media.