KUALA LUMPUR – The Communications Ministry currently has no plans to require licensing for social media services with less than 8 million users, given most cyber crimes take place on prominent platforms.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching (Kulai-PH), in the Dewan Rakyat today, explained that Putrajaya intends to first review the effectiveness of social media licensing before considering widening the scope to cover platforms with a smaller user base.
She also said that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), at the moment, does not plan to make registration with identification documents mandatory for social media users.
The deputy minister was responding to Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam-BN) regarding the readiness of social media platforms to comply with Malaysia’s upcoming licensing requirements.
According to Teo, the government has held several consultation sessions with various social media and internet messaging platforms including the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC).
“The AIC’s open letter on August 26 stating that there were no discussions with social media platforms for the licensing requirements was untrue.
“This licensing framework, based on international standards, is to ensure accountability among service providers and to combat cyber crimes,” Teo added.
On July 27, MCMC announced that all major social media platforms offering services in the country will be required to hold a licence soon, following a spate of online scams, cyberbullying cases, and other offences taking place on the platforms.
Under this new framework, all social media outlets and internet messaging services with eight million or more registered users in Malaysia must apply for a Class Licence for Application Service Providers under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588). – October 21, 2024