Fahmi blasts Meta for having ‘no remorse’ as RM432m scammed from Malaysians through Facebook, says platform’s resistance ‘facetious’

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has labelled Meta Inc as having “no remorse” or “responsibility” as Malaysians got scammed by RM432 million through its social media platform Facebook.

In an interview with South China Morning Post (SCMP), he also downplayed Meta’s concerns over the upcoming social media licensing as “facetious”, comparing it to how carmakers can still innovate and develop new technologies despite strict regulations.

“I told the Facebook team [of the losses] when I met them in Singapore. I can tell you they had no reaction. It’s like the Malay saying, tiada hati perut,” Fahmi said, using the Malay idiom meaning “being heartless”.

“Like, oh wow, RM432 million from Malaysians stolen through your platform and you have no remorse, no sense of responsibility? And you expect me to do nothing about it?”

He cited how police estimated that RM432 million had been lost to Facebook scams in 2023, pointing out how the platform has been the worst enabler of criminal activity — with 170,000 takedown requests sent to it, making up 91 per cent of online gambling and scam advertisements across all platforms.

Fahmi also said that Meta has been the least responsive when it comes to dealing with scams or online gambling.Meta also owns Instagram and WhatsApp.“The frustration the administration has had with Meta for the longest time is ... we spend so much resources communicating with Meta, repeatedly every day, to take down content related to illegal online gambling or scams,” he was quoted saying.

Fahmi gave the example of how Meta took six months to handle the Health Ministry’s complaint over Facebook accounts impersonating a doctor to sell fake eye drops.

Meta also owns Instagram and WhatsApp. SCMP said the company did not respond to its request for comments.

In August this year, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, urging Putrajaya to postpone the social media licensing — claiming it is “unworkable”.

The AIC is made up of tech giants such as Google, Meta, X, Apple and Amazon.

Despite that, Fahmi has previously insisted that the government will stick with the January 1, 2025. However, Putrajaya will not block access to internet messaging services and social media platforms that do not register.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...acetious/159057

Cannot blame them similar to no blame on banks when people lose their money

Their site is just a funnel for money like banks

If don't want people to be scammed please encourage authorities to take action when scam reports are made

the moment u have to go see them in singapork in their office instead of them coming to see u, u already know where u stand in their eyes

Be like China, build a firewall.

when I met them in Singapore. I can tell you they had no reaction


NO FARK GIVEN

so they went from having a malaysian office to completely moved out?

interesting

Go and catch the scammers then.

Whole life talking but nothing is done.

nola, they got an office here, just no high ranking person there

he can go there sembang borak but none can make any decision here

so the next best thing is to go to their regional hq, where at least there is someone high ranking enough to talk to

ya i pernah scam like rm100++, i still insist to make police report.

but the abang and akak polis that helped me lodge report also tak acah jer.

they said no choice, amount too small to investigate. like wtf.

pretty sure they're moving everything out by year end

Ini macam salahkan kilang besi sebab mereka menghasilkan piasau tajam yang digunakan untuk jenayah........

if i'm being honest, the office in mehresia doesn't matter to them

escalate the case to SISPAA...word for word, case number and everybody in charge
you'll suddenly see them very hardworking

take some action let them come and see you next time

I think no, TikTok rarely have such scam advertisement. TikTok is more controlled. If TikTok can do it, I don”t see any reason Facebook cannot do it.

Small man talking to a Tai Kor.

Now trying calling Elon Musk on all the false accusations of PN on X. See whether he give a fork or not.

Rakyat bodoh tamak, salahkan Social media.

its like blaming the car when u get into accident

sendiri bodoh but go blame the tools..

Sudah sudah lah Fahmi

All talk but no results kind of guy