KUALA LUMPUR: Major internet messaging and social media platforms with at least eight million users in Malaysia are now deemed licensed under the country’s communications laws, placing them formally under local regulatory oversight, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
He said that effective Jan 1, 2026, any such service provider will be automatically treated as holding a Class Application Service Provider (ASP(C)) licence through a “deeming provision” under Section 46A of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).
“Through this deeming provision, platforms including Facebook and Instagram (operated by Meta), WhatsApp, YouTube (operated by Google), Telegram and TikTok are now deemed ASP(C) licence holders in Malaysia,” he said in a written reply to Syahredzan Johan (PH–Bangi) on Tuesday (March 3).
Fahmi said the move is to ensure that major internet messaging and social media providers offering services to users in Malaysia operate in line with the country’s legal and regulatory framework. He added that this approach is consistent with the licensing framework for such providers that came into force on Jan 1, 2025, which aims to strengthen accountability and compliance with domestic laws.
“Once deemed licensed, these service providers are subject to all obligations applicable to class licence holders, including compliance with statutory provisions, licence conditions and regulatory directions issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC),” he said.
He noted that the MCMC may take enforcement action under Act 588 and the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866), as well as other relevant regulatory instruments, if any provider fails to comply with the directions or obligations imposed on them.
Fahmi said the MCMC will continue to work with internet messaging and social media providers, as well as other enforcement agencies, to enhance online safety for all segments of society, particularly children, families and vulnerable groups.
