MP Calls for Mandatory Caning for Producers of AI-Generated Deepfake Pornography
KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — A Member of Parliament has proposed mandatory caning for individuals convicted of producing or distributing sexually explicit deepfake content, arguing that tougher penalties are needed to reflect the severe and long-lasting psychological harm suffered by victims.
During the Dewan Rakyat debate on the Cyber Crimes Bill 2026, Rompin MP Datuk Abdul Khalib Abdullah said existing proposals, which include fines or imprisonment of up to five years, should be strengthened to better deter offenders who misuse artificial intelligence (AI) to create or circulate pornographic deepfake material.
He said victims of such crimes often experience prolonged emotional distress and trauma, warranting harsher punishment than what is currently proposed under the legislation.
“The current punishment of a fine or imprisonment of up to five years should be reviewed and increased. I also propose mandatory caning for those convicted of producing or distributing pornographic deepfake content because the psychological damage inflicted on victims can last a lifetime,” he told the House.
Abdul Khalib also urged the government to establish a national facial recognition system integrated with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to improve enforcement against identity theft involving fake online profiles.
According to him, such a system would enable authorities to act more quickly in identifying offenders and facilitate the prompt removal or blocking of fraudulent social media accounts that misuse another person’s identity.
The issue of AI-generated explicit deepfake content was also raised by Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid, who called for emergency blocking mechanisms that would require social media platforms to remove harmful content within hours, particularly when it involves children.
She argued that current response times are insufficient to protect victims from the rapid spread of digitally manipulated material online.
“A child should never have to plead on the internet for an image to be taken down. Our country must be able to act faster than the algorithms that allow such content to spread,” she said.
The Cyber Crimes Bill 2026 is currently being debated in Parliament as lawmakers examine new legal measures to address cyber offences, including crimes involving artificial intelligence, identity theft and digitally manipulated content.
