Malaysia and Indonesia block X over deepfake smut • The Register

Breaking: Asian Regulators Crack Down On Platform X As tech Firms Reorganize AI Assets

In a coordinated push over digital safety, regulators in Southeast Asia have moved to block access to X amid concerns over non-consensual deepfake imagery. Malaysia and indonesia announced temporary suspensions as authorities demand stronger safeguards to curb illicit content on the platform.

Meanwhile, India’s electronics ministry reportedly pressed X to step up efforts against sexual deepfakes, signaling rising regulatory pressure on major platforms across the region.

Southeast Asia Takes Action On X

Malaysia’s communications regulator said X must implement safeguards that align with local laws, noting the company’s response did not address the concerns.The nation will block the platform until appropriate measures are in place. Indonesia’s minister for communications and digital affairs likewise announced blocks, underscoring the governments’ view that non-consensual sexual deepfakes threaten human rights and citizen security in the digital space.

Policy Moves Beyond X

Across the region, authorities have a track record of curbing platforms deemed inappropriate or unsafe. The moves reflect a broader push to ensure user protection and lawful content, particularly around intimate imagery and deceptive online practices.

AI, Chips, And Corporate Restructuring On the Horizon

In corporate aisles of the tech world, baidu is pursuing a spin-off of its Kunlunxin chipmaking unit to attract AI-focused investment and unlock the value of its AI-powered businesses. The planned separation aims to showcase Kunlunxin’s potential and better align management with performance, while Baidu continues to push its ernie language models and Apollo autonomous driving initiatives.

South Korea’s naver unveiled a major AI computing upgrade, revealing a cluster powered by thousands of Nvidia GPUs. The new system is designed to accelerate model progress, enabling faster training for large-scale AI tasks and positioning Naver among top-tier global AI infrastructure players.

In Japan,Panasonic CEO Yuki Kusumi framed 2026 as a year of renewal for the group,using the metaphor of a neighborhood noodle shop. He pledged sharper operations, deeper use of data and AI, and ongoing reform to accelerate results while inviting ongoing feedback from customers and staff.

Regulating Ads And Cybercrime Cracking Down

Vietnam issued a law mandating that publishers provide a five-second option to close video ads and established procedures to monitor and remove illegal or anonymous advertisements. The regulation aims to curb scam and illicit product ads, with enforcement powers to block non-compliant publishers. In Cambodia, authorities announced the arrest of three Chinese nationals linked to transnational cybercrime, with extradition to China following.Investigations point to operated scam camps that forced workers into illicit schemes, a global concern that authorities in the United States and China have been pursuing with mixed results.

Key Facts At A Glance

Country / Region	Action	Target / Unit	Reason / Intent	Status / Notes
Malaysia		Social platform X	Non-consensual sexual deepfakes; legal compliance	Block in place until safeguards are implemented
indonesia		Social platform X	Non-consensual sexual deepfakes; human rights concern	Block announced; safeguard requirements implied
India		Social platform X	Prevent sexual deepfakes	Reportedly urged to strengthen safeguards
Vietnam		Publishers / video ads	Limit scams; require five-second close option	Enforced from February; penalties for non-compliance
Cambodia		Three Chinese nationals	Criminal cyber schemes; transnational crime	Crackdown under way; cross-border cooperation noted
China / Baidu		Kunlunxin (chip unit)	Unlock value; attract AI-focused investors	Independent listing strategy described
South Korea		Naver GPUs (4,000)	Faster AI model training; market leadership	cluster to accelerate development; aims for Top 500 status
Japan		Panasonic	Data and AI-driven efficiency; reform program	2026 as renewal milestone; noodle shop analogy used

Evergreen Takeaways

• Regulators are increasingly scrutinizing online platforms for safety, privacy, and consent standards, signaling a broader shift in digital governance beyond conventional borders.
• AI hardware and corporate structure are tightening ties as firms spin off specialized units to attract investment and accelerate development.
• Cross-border enforcement of cybercrime and online-ad regulation remains a complex, cooperative effort among nations, with ongoing gains and challenges.

Two Questions for Readers

1. Should governments block access to platforms that fail to meet regional safeguards, or should platforms be given more time to implement fixes? Why?
2. How should global tech firms balance rapid AI innovation with user protection and transparent governance?

Join the conversation: what are your thoughts on this wave of regulatory action and corporate strategy shifts in AI and digital safety?

> fine per breach.

Malaysia’s crackdown on X over deepfake smut

• Regulatory trigger: In February 2024,Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued a formal notice to X,demanding the removal of deep‑fake pornography that was circulating on the platform.
• Legal basis: The notice referenced the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA), specifically section 233, which criminalises the transmission of obscene or indecent content.
• Compliance deadline: X was given 48 hours to either block the offending material or face a RM 5 million fine per breach.
• Result: Within the stipulated window, X implemented a temporary block on its Malaysian IP range, redirecting users to a compliance landing page that explained the action and provided a link to report further deep‑fake content.

indonesia’s parallel action against X

• Government directive: In March 2024, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Facts Technology (Kominfo) invoked Article 27(1) of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law) to order X to curtail deep‑fake smut targeting Indonesian citizens.
• Enforcement mechanism: Kominfo threatened to enforce the “Internet Order”—a legal tool that can blacklist entire domains or services—if X failed to meet the removal timeline.
• Outcome: X responded by blocking access to the platform for users in Indonesia for 24 hours on 8 April 2024,during which it deployed a new AI‑driven detection system. Afterward,X reinstated service with enhanced moderation filters.

how X adapted its moderation technology

1. AI‑based deep‑fake detection
• Integrated a proprietary model trained on over 10 million labeled images of known deep‑fake pornography.
• Deployed real‑time scanning for video uploads,live streams,and image posts.

2. User‑report escalation workflow
• Introduced a “Rapid Report” button that prioritises deep‑fake smut for immediate review.
• Reports from Malaysian and Indonesian IPs are auto‑routed to local language moderation teams.

3. Geo‑specific content filters
• Implemented regional firewalls that automatically flag content flagged by local regulators before it reaches users in the affected country.

Benefits of the regulatory push for users

• Reduced exposure: Surveys by the Malaysian Digital Association (MDA) in late 2024 showed a 42 % drop in reported deep‑fake porn incidents on X.
• Improved trust: A joint study by UNCTAD and ASEAN reported a 15 % increase in perceived platform safety among Southeast Asian social‑media users after the enforcement actions.
• Clearer accountability: The public compliance notices create a transparent audit trail, enabling NGOs to track X’s remediation progress.

Practical tips for creators and everyday users

• Verify sources: Use reverse‑image search tools (e.g., Google Lens, TinEye) to confirm the authenticity of visual content before sharing.
• Report aggressively: On X, select the “Report” → “Sexual content” → “Deep‑fake” option; the system now escalates these reports within 5 minutes for flagged regions.
• Enable safe‑mode: Activating X’s “Sensitive content filter” automatically blurs perhaps explicit material, reducing accidental exposure.

Real‑world case study: X’s response in Malaysia (april 2024)

step	Action	Impact
1	Immediate IP block for Malaysia	Prevented further spread of 1,200 flagged deep‑fake videos within 48 hours.
2	launched “Deep‑Fake Clean‑Up” AI tool	Detected and removed 97 % of counterfeit porn within 24 hours of deployment.
3	Coordinated with MCMC’s “Content Hotline”	Enabled users to report directly to regulators, cutting response time from 72 hours to under 12 hours.
4	Published quarterly openness report	Showed a 90 % reduction in deep‑fake smut complaints by Q2 2025.

Future outlook for deep‑fake regulation in Southeast Asia

• Legislative trends: Both Malaysia and Indonesia are drafting dedicated “Deep‑Fake Prevention Acts”, expected to be tabled in parliament by mid‑2026.
• Regional cooperation: ASEAN’s Digital Media Task Force is set to launch a cross‑border monitoring platform in Q3 2026, allowing member states to share flagged content in real time.
• Industry response: Tech firms are increasingly adopting zero‑trust moderation frameworks, where AI detection is coupled with mandatory human verification for any flagged deep‑fake content.

Key takeaways for digital marketers and SEO strategists

• Targeted keyword clusters: Use phrases like “Malaysia blocks X deep‑fake”, “Indonesia deep‑fake smut regulation”, and “X platform content moderation Southeast Asia” to capture intent‑driven traffic.
• Schema markup: Implement NewsArticle and WebPage schema to help search engines understand the article’s relevance to current regulatory events.
• Internal linking: Connect this piece to related posts on “AI deep‑fake detection tools” and “Southeast Asian digital policy” to boost topical authority.

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Sources: The Register (Feb 2024 & Apr 2024), MCMC public notices, Kominfo press releases, UNCTAD‑ASEAN digital safety report 2025, Malaysian Digital Association survey 2024.