Malaysia is increasing pressure on Facebook and parent company Meta over illegal gambling advertisements and scam content. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has warned that authorities may act if cooperation does not improve.
The warning came during an inter-agency session on online scams in Kuala Lumpur. It follows months of criticism over gambling and scam ads appearing on major social media platforms.
Facebook carries most flagged content
Malaysian authorities issued 271,472 takedown requests for harmful online content between Jan. 1 and May 23, 2026. Most of those requests were linked to online scams and illegal gambling.
Facebook carried the largest share of the flagged material. The platform accounted for 81% of gambling-related content and 58% of scam-related content identified by regulators.
That has made Meta a main target in Malaysia’s online harm controls. Platforms must respond faster when regulators flag unlawful gambling promotions or scam content.
Meta given another chance
The government had effectively given Meta a final opportunity to show stronger cooperation. Malaysia could move beyond warnings if the company does not act more quickly. The minister also linked the issue to public harm. Illegal gambling ads can direct users to unlicensed operators, while scam content can expose people to fraud, identity theft and financial losses.
Meta already has advertising rules for online gambling and gaming content. Those rules require authorization for some gambling promotions and restrict targeting to adults, but illegal ads are still reaching users.
Malaysia has tightened platform rules
Malaysia has been increasing control over large social media platforms. From 2025, platforms with more than eight million users in the country must hold a licence under rules aimed at online harms.
The licensing framework covers issues including scams, illegal gambling, cyberbullying and sexual exploitation. It gives authorities more power to act against major platforms. The government has also increased takedown requests to Meta, TikTok, Telegram, X and YouTube. Meta has received the highest number of requests linked to illegal online advertisements.
Licensing rules add pressure
Malaysia’s social media licensing framework is handled by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. Platforms covered by the rules must meet local requirements on harmful content, user safety and cooperation with authorities.
The framework gives Malaysia another tool beyond individual takedown requests. For Meta, continued illegal gambling and scam ad cases could bring closer scrutiny under the country’s platform licensing system.
