PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued a statutory demand to TikTok over its failure to effectively moderate offensive and defamatory content, particularly posts targeting the Royal Institution.

In a statement, MCMC said a fake TikTok account was found to have uploaded manipulated and AI-generated videos and images aimed at the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The commission described TikTok’s response to the issue as unsatisfactory despite repeated notifications and engagements.

According to MCMC, the platform failed to promptly remove harmful content and prevent its continued spread.

“As a platform rendering social media services in Malaysia, service providers are expected to exercise a higher degree of responsibility in safeguarding their services against exploitation for unlawful and harmful activities,” the commission said.

The statutory demand requires TikTok to immediately strengthen its content moderation system and improve enforcement against content that violates Malaysian laws and community standards. TikTok has also been ordered to provide a formal explanation regarding the moderation failures.

The action follows a statement issued yesterday by the Johor royal press office, which urged MCMC to take firm action against a fake TikTok account operating under the username “Sultan Ibrahim Ismail”.

The account allegedly posted defamatory content and edited images of the Agong alongside false claims suggesting that he “enjoys eating pork”.

The incident comes less than a month after an edited Facebook image depicting a pig dressed in royal attire circulated online, sparking public outrage.