Malaysia has removed more than 10000 fake social media accounts impersonating the King, Queen, and members of the royal family as of 31 March 2026. The action follows ongoing monitoring by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and reports from the public.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the accounts were taken down between 1 January and 28 March 2026. These accounts were found to be misusing royal identities, which could potentially be linked to scams and the spread of false information.
Ongoing crackdown on impersonation and scams
The issue remains active, with new fake accounts continuing to appear. Some of these accounts impersonate high-profile figures such as the Sultan of Pahang and the Regent of Johor, raising concerns about fraud risks in Malaysia’s online space.
From a tech perspective, this reflects a growing challenge in tackling identity misuse on social media platforms. As artificial intelligence tools and deepfake technologies become more accessible, impersonation tactics are becoming more convincing and harder to detect. This has pushed authorities to strengthen enforcement under the Online Safety Act 2025.
Platforms urged to respond faster
Fahmi also highlighted that some platforms, including Meta, have been slow in responding to takedown requests. This delay has raised concerns among regulators, especially as scams involving fake identities continue to increase.
The Malaysian government is expected to introduce stricter compliance measures soon. Additional legal instruments under the Online Safety Act are being finalised and could be implemented in the coming weeks. Once enforced, platforms operating in Malaysia may be required to act more quickly on harmful or misleading content.
Coordinated response to AI-driven threats
Authorities are also preparing for more advanced forms of online scams. A multi-agency meeting involving the National Scam Response Centre, Royal Malaysia Police, and other relevant bodies is expected to focus on tackling scams that use artificial intelligence, including deepfake content.
This points to a broader effort to improve cybersecurity coordination in Malaysia. For the tech industry, it signals increased pressure to strengthen systems related to account verification, content moderation, and detection of manipulated media.
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