KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications and Multimedia Ministry has expressed concern over allegations that the TikTok moderation group in Malaysia has been infiltrated by forces wishing to further its own agendas.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Fahmi Fadzil said there are rumblings on social media that the moderation level on the popular app in Malaysia is biased or prejudiced.
"From what I've seen on social media, some have begun questioning the moderation level of TikTok in Malaysia, with some claiming that the moderation level is biased or prejudiced against a particular side.
"I have reached out to TikTok authorities in Malaysia. To me, these are serious accusations as there are allegations that some 4,000 people have infiltrated the TikTok Malaysia moderator group.
"This group is supposedly conducting a covert operation to promote certain quarters. So this is a serious allegation indeed.
"I will be inviting TikTok representatives in Malaysia to study and review these moderators from a security perspective," he said.
Fahmi was speaking to reporters after launching the 'Pakej Perpaduan' mobile internet prepaid package at the Desa Rejang public housing project here today.
He explained that this move did not mean that the authorities are impinging on the right to free speech.
"The right to free speech is enshrined in the Constitution, but spreading untruths is not. Helping spread untruths is also something we have to study so that TikTok Malaysia's reputation is not smeared as well.
Fahmi was also asked for comments on concerns by the European Union (EU) on the use of TikTok for all government-owned devices and equipment.
He said Cyber Security Malaysia is conducting a study on the matter. This, he added, was important as it involved government secrets, thus there is a need to study and understand the situation.
"On the use of the TikTok app involving devices and equipment used by the federal government, we will have to wait for the outcome of the study by CyberSecurity Malaysia first," he said.
Two EU policy-making institutions had previously banned the use of TikTok on their employees' mobile devices on the grounds that there is a rising level of security concerns surrounding the Chinese-made app as well as its user database.
Fears have been sparked that TikTok, owned by ByteDance and headquartered in China, can be used by the Chinese government to collect user data to advance its own interests.