Malaysia, Meta to discuss gambling ad rules next week
Meta executives will meet with Malaysian Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil on 22 September 2025 to discuss the rise in unlawful online gambling ads on Facebook. The meeting takes place as the government of Malaysia demands that the social media giant take more aggressive measures to stop content that is illegal in the country.
According to a local news outlet, the discussion follows growing frustration within the government over Facebook’s slow and inconsistent response to reports of illegal gambling content. Minister Fahmi confirmed that the majority of material removed from the platform in Malaysia is related to online gambling, yet persistent violations continue despite previous complaints.
“Complaints that we have submitted from the beginning until now, for example, if an online gambling advertisement is paid for using a credit card, Facebook should know that this is content not permitted in Malaysia,” Fahmi said. He also noted that Meta has many questions regarding enforcement, and the upcoming meeting will clarify Malaysia’s concerns and expectations.
Facebook faces minister’s ire
The minister criticised Facebook for refusing to take stronger action against accounts linked to illegal gambling activity. He highlighted that advertising payments connected to such prohibited activity are not being properly blocked, leaving the door open for continued violations. Despite these challenges, Fahmi stressed that the government is adopting a constructive, dialogic approach rather than a punitive one. “We do not intend to ban or shut down Facebook,” he said, acknowledging that millions of Malaysians rely on the platform for social and economic purposes.
However, Fahmi cautioned that criminals shouldn’t be permitted to use social media sites for financial gain at the expense of public safety and social cohesion. It is anticipated that the upcoming talks with Meta will be centred on how the platform can balance user access while more effectively monitoring and blocking unlawful gambling ads.
The minister made these remarks after officiating the Community Day Programme and National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) Penanti event in Penang. Also present were Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Managing Director Abdul Karim Fakir Ali.
Over 500K posts taken down
Meanwhile, Malaysia has removed more than 558,000 pieces of unlawful online content between January 2022 and August 2025, with illegal gambling and online fraud accounting for the majority of cases. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in collaboration with law enforcement and regulatory agencies, has spearheaded efforts under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to identify and remove harmful content.
Illegal online gambling remains a major digital challenge in Malaysia. While certain legal forms of gambling exist, such as licenced lotteries, horse racing, and the Resorts World Genting casino, online gambling is entirely banned. Many operators exploit loopholes in existing laws to continue operating illegally. Teo also criticised the slow response of digital platforms, noting that harmful content often spreads before being removed.
In order to protect children online, the government has also instituted a new Code of Conduct and mandated that social media companies obtain an Application Service Provider licence. The Safe Internet Campaign also informs Malaysians about age-appropriate digital access and cyber threats.
