PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will continue its engagement sessions with social media platform providers to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations, which will be fully enforced from Jan 1, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil (pic).
He said feedback received from platform providers following MCMC’s engagements to date had been mixed, with some demonstrating a high level of cooperation in addressing problematic content, while others had shown a lack of commitment.
“There are platforms that are very proactive, but there are also those that ignore complaints or information that we submit,” he said in a special interview with Bernama.
Fahmi said that although social media platforms with more than eight million users were no longer required to formally apply for a licence, as previously announced by MCMC, Malaysian laws remained fully applicable to them.
He said this was because the government wanted to ensure that social media platforms operating in Malaysia were fully accountable for the content and activities on their respective platforms.
“We have already given them opportunities. Some have complied, while others have offered excuses. But the reality is that online crime has not decreased; in fact, it is becoming increasingly worrying,” he said.
He added that cases of online scams had multiplied, along with an increase in sexual crimes against children, the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as deepfakes and online gambling activities that were proving difficult to curb.
Fahmi also cited international reports indicating that some platforms generated revenue from scam advertisements, raising questions about the responsibility of digital service providers.
“On that basis, and taking into account what is happening in other countries, the government sees justification in defining or deeming all social media platforms as licensed. There is no need to go through a licensing process, but the country’s laws apply,” he said.
Addressing potential resistance from major platforms, including global technology companies, Fahmi said the government could not continue to wait while the number of scam and digital abuse victims continued to rise.
“I still remember that a day before Christmas 2024, a representative of a major platform contacted me and expressed readiness to submit their application, but a year passed without any action. Victims of scams and AI abuse cannot wait,” he said.
In this regard, he emphasised that all platforms with more than eight million users must comply with Malaysian laws, with these measures taking effect from Jan 1, 2026.
