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I never thought I’d be writing about how images of anthropomorphic penises are getting censored, but here we are.
Censorship’s a funny thing. As writers, we learn about the different rules we need to follow – both said and unsaid. But I believe that it would be better if censorship is mostly left up to the individual. After all, we do have control over the type of content we consume, and self-regulation is the key factor. If you don’t like it, then avoid it.
Today’s story takes a look at censorship from the perspective of Malaysia’s government, which recently banned the Dickheads NFT project. The move has raised some concerns within the NFT artist community, especially following other instances of potential legal violations.
Today we look at:
- Non-fungible tokens, part 1: Malaysia puts a stop to an “inappropriate and indecent” NFT project
- NFTs, part 2: Adgorithmics incorporates them as loyalty rewards
- Other newsy highlights such as TikTok Shop’s Malaysia rollout and Revolut getting the green light for crypto services in Singapore.
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Getting the cut
Image credit: Timmy Loen
Art getting censored is a tale as old as time. In this case, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) didn’t take too kindly to digital images of anthropomorphic penises being sold online and has banned the Dickheads NFT project from being minted locally. Whether this is just the beginning of further censorship within the space, only time will tell.
- Drop it like it’s banned: Tech In Asia understands the censorship comes after complaints were filed with the MCMC. In response, the agency ordered Malaysia-based marketplace NFT Pangolin to delist the project. According to the MCMC, the complaints stated that the content in question is “inappropriate and indecent in nature.”
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After the cock-up: An NFT Pangolin spokesperson told us that the company was “working closely” with MCMC and the Dickheads NFT artist to address the matter. As for the unamed artist, they’re now looking to host the project on OpenSea, the world’s largest NFT marketplace, or SuperRare, an Ethereum-based digital art market.
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Chilling effect: This isn’t the first time an NFT artist has gotten into trouble in the country. Fahmi Reza recently landed himself in hot water because of his Monyet Istana (Palace Monkey) NFT. He was arrested by police last week and detained under Malaysia’s sedition laws. He was released the next day but has since been barred from leaving the country.
Read more: Malaysia bans Dickheads NFT
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