Kuala lumpur: Accountability and a people-centred approach are critical pillars in shaping a secure and inclusive digital future, said Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. In her closing remarks at the two-day International Regulatory Conference (IRC) 2026 today, she highlighted that digital progress must be measured not only by technological capabilities but also by accountability, resilience, and whether innovation serves the public good.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Teo remarked that people will evaluate technology not solely based on its advancements but on its safety, fairness, and reliability. She stressed the importance of evolving technology alongside accountability and made it clear that the future of technology will be determined not only by innovations but also by governance choices and the beneficiaries of such innovations.
Teo addressed the significant challenges in the online space, disclosing that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued 1.2 million content removal requests to social media platforms between January 1, 2022, and July 15, 2026. Out of these, 1.138 million pieces of harmful content were successfully removed by platform providers. She further noted that from January 1 to July 15, 2026, MCMC issued an additional 377,502 removal requests, which is nearly 78 percent of the total requests recorded for the entire year of 2025. During this period, platforms managed to remove up to 350,332 harmful content.
Teo emphasized that regulations alone are insufficient to safeguard digital spaces and ensure online safety, child protection, and platform accountability. She urged platforms, regulators, schools, communities, and the broader industry to collaborate in embedding safety measures into systems from the design stage, rather than reacting post-incident.
The IRC, themed 'Shaping the Next Digital Era: Regulation, Resilience and Trust', is a global platform organized by the MCMC. It brings together regulators, industry leaders, and experts to discuss the digital economy and regulatory issues in the communications and multimedia sector.