Google partners with Malaysia’s Content Forum to strengthen digital safety

Google has announced that the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (Content Forum) has been onboarded to its Priority Flagger program, a move aimed at strengthening collaborative efforts in identifying and reporting harmful or policy-violating content on platforms such as YouTube and Google Search.

The Priority Flagger program was developed to allow selected organisations, including NGOs and regulatory bodies, to flag potentially problematic content through a direct channel that enables faster review by Google’s moderation teams.

These organisations are chosen for their subject matter expertise and familiarity with local context, which can improve the accuracy of content reporting.

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By joining the program, the Content Forum will now play a more active role in helping surface content that may breach Google’s policies. The organisation will also take part in feedback sessions around Google and YouTube’s content guidelines, contributing insights based on Malaysian cultural and regulatory frameworks.

The Content Forum operates as a self-regulatory body under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Its mandate includes promoting responsible content across digital platforms in the country, with representation from various industry players such as broadcasters, advertisers, content creators and civic groups.

In a statement, Farhan S. Qureshi, country director for Google Malaysia, said the collaboration helps bring in local knowledge to enhance how content is reviewed and moderated across its platforms.

Mediha Mahmood, CEO of the Content Forum, said the partnership offers a practical way to support content safety by enabling the organisation to take a more hands-on role in flagging and reviewing content in line with shared policy standards.

The collaboration comes as platforms and regulators continue to explore frameworks that balance open expression with the need to address harmful or misleading content online.

Just last week, the Content Forum released an advisory urging influencers and content creators to take greater accountability for the impact of their work, especially in an era where digital content can stir emotions and public reaction within seconds.

It called attention to a growing trend of attention-seeking and misleading online content, warning that while virality may win clicks, it can erode trust and even cross legal and ethical lines

The Forum also called on audiences to play their part in curbing harmful content, by pausing before sharing, questioning the motives of the post, avoid rewarding dishonesty, use platform tools to flag harmful posts, and to hold creators to higher standards of integrity.

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