PUTRAJAYA: Google and X have yet to apply for the new class licenses required under Malaysia’s updated regulatory framework, which came into effect on January 1.
The new licensing rules, introduced last July, aim to protect the public from potential online risks. Social media platforms and messaging services with more than eight million registered users in Malaysia must adhere to these new regulations.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) clarified that Google, which owns YouTube, expressed concerns regarding the categorization of its video-sharing features under the updated rules. The commission assured that it would address these concerns and ensure YouTube, along with other qualifying platforms, meets the required obligations.
Meanwhile, X informed MCMC that its user base in Malaysia has not yet reached the eight million mark. MCMC is currently reviewing this claim and will continue to engage with X to verify its status.
Other major platforms are progressing with their license applications. Tencent’s WeChat was the first to secure the Application Service Provider Class license, followed by ByteDance’s TikTok. Telegram is reportedly in the final stages of obtaining its license, while Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has already started its application process and is expected to complete it soon.
MCMC stressed that it would closely monitor platforms that have not yet secured their licenses, warning that non-compliant platforms could face penalties under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. These penalties could include fines of up to RM500,000 (US$111,600), imprisonment for up to five years, or a daily fine of RM1,000 for each day of non-compliance.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil reassured that Malaysia has no plans to block or ban social media platforms, recognizing their vital role in the country’s digital economy.
The introduction of these new regulations follows the tragic death of social media influencer Rajeswary Appahu, known as Esha, who was found dead after reporting harassment in a TikTok live session. This incident prompted the government to reconsider its approach to online platforms, particularly in addressing issues like cyberbullying.
According to data from World Population Review, WeChat has 12 million users in Malaysia. Additional statistics from Kepios show that, as of early 2024, YouTube has 24.1 million users, TikTok has 28.68 million users aged 18 and older, Facebook has 22.35 million users, and X has 5.71 million users in Malaysia.
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