MCMC Gives A Five-Month Grace Period For Social Media Platforms To Comply With Licencing

The regulatory body said they will conduct a public inquiry and work with the platforms to ensure that they meet the licencing requirements.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will hold a public inquiry on proposed licensing requirements for social media and internet messaging service providers.

This inquiry aims to create a fair and effective framework that meets the needs of both the industry and the public, according to Bernama.

The framework, approved by the Cabinet on 8 March 2024, targets service providers with over eight million registered users, focusing on issues like online gambling, scams, and pornography to ensure a safer online environment.

MCMC has engaged with various stakeholders, including service providers and civil society groups, to develop this regulatory framework.

A five-month grace period has been given for platforms to comply, with full enforcement starting on 1 January 2024. MCMC emphasised that service providers must align their operations with local laws.

Additionally, MCMC reprimanded the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) for misrepresenting several tech companies in a letter to the Prime Minister that called for a pause in implementing the licensing requirements.

MCMC has asked AIC to provide proof of authorisation from these companies and denied claims that AIC was not consulted during the development of the framework.

The regulatory body stressed the importance of service providers’ legal responsibility to protect users and comply with Malaysian law.

Big tech companies not above our laws, says Communications Minister

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that in order to continue their operations in Malaysia, major technology companies are required to adhere to local legislation.

Big tech companies are big, but our laws are bigger. If they want to operate in Malaysia, they must respect and comply with our laws.

Fahmi added that earlier engagements with representatives of social media companies on the licencing plan had been positive.

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