Fahmi said data from the police’s commercial crime investigation department revealed that more than RM248 million was lost in 18,128 e-commerce scams reported on Meta-owned platforms – Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – between 2023 and August this year.

In a statement, he said 168,774 content removal requests were submitted to Meta for Facebook alone this year (up to Sept 19), representing 59% of total requests across all social media platforms.

Of these, 120,127 involved online gambling, but only 114,665 were removed. Scam-related activities made up 37,722 takedown requests, with 36,918 taken down.

“These figures show Meta has not fully cooperated in combating cybercrime, leaving room for offences to continue.

“Meta and all social media platforms must take greater responsibility to ensure unlawful content is promptly removed,” he said, adding that Meta had pledged to improve cooperation and step up enforcement.

Fahmi also called on social media platforms to introduce more effective age and identity verification mechanisms, such as the use of MyKad or MyDigital ID, to prevent children from opening accounts.

The statement follows a meeting with Meta at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission that included representatives from the criminal investigation department and commercial crime investigation department, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the home and finance ministries, the National Financial Crime Prevention Centre, and the National Cyber Security Agency.