Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and Google have not yet secured application service provider (ASP) class licences for their social media platforms.
The Communications Minister explained that each of the three companies has specific concerns or issues that need to be resolved before proceeding, according to The Star.
Fahmi noted that Meta has requested a meeting with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to finalise its application.
Meanwhile, X has claimed that its user base in Malaysia is not large enough to warrant a social media license.
Fahmi said that they have decided to grant X some flexibility for now, but the Ministry will soon set a final deadline for all platforms to obtain their ASP licences.
He added that regardless of the issues or concerns, this matter must be resolved, but he didn’t say what will happen to these platforms if they still fail to apply for the licences.
The licensing requirement, which became mandatory on 1 January 2025, aims to regulate the proliferation of disruptive and offensive content on social media platforms.
It’s also intended to address the growing cases of cybercrime, including online fraud, gambling, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes against children in Malaysia.