PETALING JAYA, Malaysia — Malaysia’s Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching told Parliament that the country’s Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had worked with X to remove pornographic content from the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Teo told the legislators that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has blocked 549 pornographic websites and 69 full-service-sex-work-related websites since Jan. 1, Singapore’s The Star newspaper reported.

Teo added that MCMC’s pressure on various social media companies, including X and Telegram, had resulted in the removal of “308 incidents of pornographic content and 838 cases of prostitution-related content” on the platforms.

“The Ministry of Communications through the MCMC assists by providing technical support to relevant authorities, including the removal of social media content, blocking of websites, and supplying information and digital forensic analysis to expedite investigations,” Teo added. “Aside from that, MCMC takes action under the Communications and Multimedia Act Malaysia 1998 if uploaded content is deemed obscene, offensive, false, threatening, or malicious.”

Teo confirmed the Malaysian government continues strengthening its ties with internet companies to implement “harmful content monitoring and control initiatives on social media platforms.”

As XBIZ reported, under the ownership of Elon Musk, X has pivoted to a non-absolutist approach to free speech. The entrepreneur has stated that X would “respect the speech laws of each country” so that the platform he purchased in October 2022 will not become “a free-for-all hellscape.”