MCMC probes AI footage of grieving Mahathir, warns of legal action

PUTRAJAYA, October 2 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is keeping a close watch on social media posts allegedly utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to alter footage of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad mourning the passing of his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali. The commission announced it had reached out to the respective social media platforms regarding the content.

“If any breach of the law is found, suitable measures may be enacted under existing legislation, such as the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588),” it conveyed in a statement issued today. MCMC emphasized that the manipulation of authentic footage to mislead the public, alter the context of an event, or defame individuals and their families is a serious matter, particularly during times of grief.

The agency called upon the public not to generate or disseminate misleading manipulated material and to confirm information before sharing it. Reports of suspected manipulated content should be forwarded to the appropriate platforms or authorities. While AI presents numerous advantages, MCMC stressed that the technology should be employed responsibly.

“Technology should not be employed to distort the truth or exploit someone’s grief at the expense of dignity and humanity,” the statement asserted. The announcement came in the wake of the dissemination of manipulated footage of Tun Dr Mahathir following his wife’s death on September 28 at the age of 100. In March, the government had warned that AI and deepfake technology were being increasingly utilized to generate false or manipulated content, including imagery and voices of public figures.

It stated that MCMC was collaborating with social media platforms and law enforcement agencies to tackle harmful online material.