MCMC denies involvement in activities described in Anthropic report

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has categorically denied any involvement in the activities or arrangements outlined in a recent report by AI firm Anthropic. In a statement, MCMC emphasized that it is fully aware of the report and has taken the concerns raised very seriously. The statement made it clear that any actions resembling those described in the report are beyond MCMC's purview and are not part of their functions or mandate.

Anthropic disclosed that Malaysia had become a target of an AI-driven commercial manipulation scheme involving over a thousand fake X accounts, voter data, and constituency-based targeting systems designed to sway political attitudes. The company, which provides Claude AI platform, discovered the operation after identifying an account that had been utilized for election manipulation targeting Malaysian users, as reported by Anthropic in their document titled, Detecting and Countering Misuse of AI: September 2026.

According to Anthropic's findings, the platform was associated with an Istanbul-based technology company offering 'influence-as-a-service' capabilities. MCMC stated that they are currently reviewing the report and are seeking additional information and clarification from relevant parties to ascertain the facts and evaluate the issues raised.

MCMC indicated that any further actions would be dictated by the information and evidence at hand, within its jurisdiction, and in collaboration with relevant authorities as needed. The commission reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the public and tackling online dangers as a top priority.