{
  "id": 12654876,
  "title": "713 deepfakes of political leaders taken down since 2025",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/713-deepfakes-of-political-leaders-taken-down-since-2025",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-07T15:18:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/07/713-deepfakes-of-political-leaders-taken-down-since-2025"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil revealed that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has taken down 713 deepfake social media content involving political leaders since January 2025. The removal of this content occurred after MCMC submitted takedown requests to service providers, following complaints and breaches of community guidelines and local laws. Fahmi emphasized that MCMC's enforcement actions were not selective and were carried out in accordance with the law, irrespective of the political leanings of the individuals involved.\n\nThe communications minister noted that Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act outlines the necessary elements of wrongdoing and intent for an action to be considered an offense. In 2025, the Act was amended to provide further clarification on the definition of false, obscene, indecent, threatening, and extremely offensive content. Before prosecution, cases are referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers to ensure that enforcement actions align with the law, providing a layer of oversight and accountability.",
  "summary": "Service providers removed the content from their platforms after MCMC submitted takedown requests.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "713 deepfakes of political leaders taken offline",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/713-deepfakes-of-political-leaders-taken-offline",
        "published": "2026-10-07T15:14:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "713 deepfakes of political leaders taken down since 2025",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/713-deepfakes-of-political-leaders-taken-down-since-2025-12660164",
        "published": "2026-10-07T15:18:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}