Malaysia's New Social Media Law Challenges Tech Giants

According to ShibDaily, online platform X and tech giant Google, which owns YouTube, have not yet applied for a social media operating license under Malaysia's new Social Media Regulations Act. This law, effective from January 1, aims to combat cybercrime by requiring social media platforms and messaging services with over 8 million users in Malaysia to obtain a license or face legal consequences. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is currently reviewing X's claim that its user base in Malaysia does not meet the eight million threshold required by the law. Additionally, Google has expressed concerns about how YouTube's video-sharing features are classified under the new licensing framework. The Malaysian government is following the lead of several other Asian countries in tightening regulations to manage and monitor online platforms. In recent years, countries like India, Australia, and Singapore have implemented measures to hold Big Tech companies accountable for the content shared on their platforms. These efforts aim to curb the spread of illegal or harmful material, including hate speech, misinformation, cyberbullying, and other forms of online harm. Several companies have already complied with Malaysia's new social media law. Tencent's WeChat was among the first to secure a license, followed by ByteDance's TikTok. The messaging platform Telegram has also applied for a license, indicating its compliance with the new regulations. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has started the process of applying for the necessary license. Companies that fail to comply with Malaysia's new social media law could face legal consequences, including investigations, increased regulatory scrutiny, and potential penalties or restrictions, as outlined by the MCMC. In extreme cases, non-compliant platforms could face suspension or even be blocked in the country, severely impacting their ability to offer services to Malaysian users. This regulatory move reflects a broader trend in Asia, where governments are increasingly taking steps to ensure that online platforms are held responsible for the content they host. The new law underscores the growing importance of regulatory compliance for tech companies operating in the region.