Meta, Telegram among 4 providers applying for licences to operate in Malaysia: MCMC

KUALA LUMPUR – Meta and Telegram have applied for licences to operate in Malaysia, signalling efforts to comply with regulatory requirements, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

In a statement, MCMC revealed that Tencent, which owns WeChat, was the first to secure an Applications Service Provider Class (ASP(C)) licence.

The Chinese tech giant’s compliance ensures its messaging, social media, and payment services align with Malaysia’s licensing framework.

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has also successfully obtained its licence.

Meanwhile, Telegram is in the final stages of its application process and is expected to receive approval soon.

Meta, which operates WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, has begun the licensing process and is anticipated to complete it shortly, said the commission.

Conversely, X (formerly Twitter) and Google, the operator of YouTube, have yet to submit their applications.

MCMC clarified that X’s user base in Malaysia does not meet the required threshold of eight million users, though the commission is actively reviewing the company’s data and will continue discussions to determine its status.

Regarding Google, the commission noted challenges in classifying YouTube’s video-sharing features under the current licensing framework.

“MCMC has deliberated on the issues raised and shall ensure YouTube, as well as all relevant platform providers meeting the licensing criteria, are bound by their duties and responsibilities under the Licensing Framework, which is now in force,” the commission said.

The MCMC warned that platform providers failing to comply with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) could face investigations and regulatory actions.

“The commission will assess the status of platform providers that have yet to obtain the required licences and consider the appropriate actions under the Act,” it added.

The licensing initiative, introduced under Act 588 and comes into effect today, aims to bolster online safety, protect users, and improve regulatory oversight of social media and messaging services.

On July 27 last year, MCMC mandated that all platforms with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must secure a licence. – January 1, 2025