Malaysia mandates new social media license to combat cybercrimes

Starting August 1, Malaysia will implement a new mandate requiring social media services with more than 8 million users in the country to obtain a government-issued license. This regulatory step is part of a broader initiative aimed at addressing the rising issue of cybercrime, according to official government sources.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) disclosed on Saturday that this new licensing requirement is in line with the cabinet’s recent decision to enforce stricter compliance with Malaysian laws. These laws are specifically designed to combat various forms of cybercrime, including scams, cyberbullying, and sexual offenses.

Social media platforms affected by this mandate will need to secure their licenses by January 1, 2025. Failure to do so will result in legal consequences, as stipulated by the commission.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil indicated last week that the regulatory body had directed social media companies to address the government’s growing concerns regarding cybercrime and inappropriate content on their platforms.

Earlier in the year, Malaysia saw a notable increase in harmful content across social media and called on major platforms, including Meta (Facebook’s parent company) and TikTok, to improve their monitoring and content moderation practices. Currently, the communications regulator can flag content that breaches local laws, but the ultimate decision to remove such content remains with the social media platforms themselves.