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CYBERJAYA: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the launch of Aifa, a chatbot designed to help Malaysians verify text messages and combat fake news on WhatsApp.
Developed by the Malaysian Multimedia and Communications Commission (MCMC), Aifa (Artificial Intelligence Fact-Check Assistant) supports English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, and Tamil. It uses machine learning to cross-check information with reliable sources, providing users with quick and accurate verification.
From 2020 to January 2025, 25,114 fake news items have been removed in Malaysia, with nearly 20,000 verified as false in 2024 alone.
Fahmi emphasized Aifa’s importance, citing viral misinformation like false claims about political affiliations and immigration statistics. The chatbot is part of the government’s broader efforts, alongside the Sebenarnya.my portal, to curb misinformation.
Social media platforms such as TikTok, WeChat, and Telegram have secured licences under new regulations targeting platforms with over eight million users. Meta is in the process of obtaining its licence, while discussions with Google and Microsoft continue.
