MCMC probes AI‑manipulated footage of Dr Mahathir grieving wife’s death, warns of legal action

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has raised concerns over social media content allegedly using artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate footage of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad grieving the death of his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali. The commission has reached out to relevant social media platforms regarding the content, stating that any violation of law could result in appropriate action under existing legislation, including the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).

The MCMC emphasized the importance of not taking lightly the manipulation of genuine footage that could mislead the public, distort the context of an event, or undermine the dignity of individuals and their families, particularly during bereavement. The commission urged the public to verify material before sharing it and to report suspected manipulated content to the relevant platforms or authorities.

While AI offers significant benefits, the MCMC stressed the need for responsible use, warning against its misuse to distort the truth or exploit someone’s grief at the expense of dignity and humanity. This follows the circulation of manipulated footage of Tun Dr Mahathir after his wife’s death on September 28 at the age of 100.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.