Malaysia will require social media services to apply for a license if they have more than 8 million users in the country starting from August 1. This move aims to combat the rising tide of cyber offenses, the government announced.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued a statement on Saturday, indicating that the licensing requirement aligns with the cabinet’s decision to ensure social media and internet messaging services comply with Malaysian laws. These laws are specifically targeted at fighting scams, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes.
Social media services that fail to apply for a license by January 1, 2025, will face legal action, the commission warned.
Last week, Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil mentioned that the regulator had directed social media firms to address the government’s concerns regarding cybercrime and harmful content on their platforms.
Earlier this year, Malaysia reported a significant increase in harmful social media content and urged social media firms, including Facebook parent Meta and the short video platform TikTok, to enhance their content monitoring efforts.
Currently, the MCMC can flag content that violates local laws to social media companies, but it is up to these platforms to decide whether to remove the content.
The new licensing requirement is expected to give the Malaysian government more control and ensure that social media platforms adhere to local regulations aimed at protecting users from cyber threats.
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