MCMC secures injunction against Telegram to shut two channels

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has secured a legal win in its ongoing case against Telegram, with the Kuala Lumpur High Court granting an Erinfjord Injunction (a court order to maintain the status quo pending an appeal) to prohibit the publication of harmful content on the platform.

The ruling includes an order to close two Telegram channels, Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas, along with any other accounts of similar nature or operation. The decision comes as MCMC continues its efforts to curb the spread of false, misleading, and inflammatory content on social platforms in Malaysia, the commission said in a statement. 

As reported by The Edge, the injunction bars all three defendants from producing, publishing, or circulating any additional material related to the disputed content. It also directs Telegram to block access to the identified harmful channels, along with any mirror sites, alternative links, or similar channels, until MCMC’s appeal against the High Court’s earlier refusal to grant a wider mandatory injunction is resolved.

Edisi Siasat and Edisi Khas were well known as accounts on Twitter (now X) and Telegram, for publishing sensational exposés about corruption and abuse of power targeting political figures and government agencies.

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In its decision, the court ruled that public interest outweighs private interest in this case, noting that the potential harm to public institutions and social order would be far greater than any prejudice to Telegram. The injunction will remain in effect pending MCMC’s interlocutory appeal before the Court of Appeal.

The High Court also underscored that foreign platform operators, including Telegram, must be sensitive to Malaysia’s unique cultural and social landscape and ensure compliance with local laws. The reminder comes as Malaysia intensifies its oversight of social media platforms, following Telegram’s recent approval to operate under a social media licence in the country.

According to MCMC, this marks a milestone in its mission to maintain a safe and responsible digital ecosystem that protects national interests and public trust.

In May, the MCMC filed a lawsuit against Telegram and the two channels, alleging that since February 2024, they had been circulating hate speech targeting Malaysia’s royal institution and public bodies. The commission claimed the channels shared content that violated the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, potentially undermining public trust and social order.

MCMC said, the channels were disseminating false and misleading information as part of a coordinated campaign of hate speech against the monarchy and government institutions. The content was said to incite public unrest, erode confidence in authorities, and threaten social cohesion. The channels were also accused of misusing the platform to distribute offensive and disruptive messages.

The court injunction comes just as Telegram, alongside TikTok and WeChat obtained theirapplication service provider (ASP) class licenses under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, as of end August, making them the first few messaging services and social platforms to hold the social media licenses. 

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil had stressed that the goal of the social media license is to tackle crimes that have migrated online, such as scams, cyberbullying, and sexual offences against children, rather than to curtail freedom of expression.

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