Malaysia wants social media companies with more than eight million users to get a regulatory license by January 1, 2025. This step was taken to address the issue of safety on the Internet, although it has been widely debated among large businesses, particularly Meta.

Highlights:

• Social media platforms must apply for a license by January 1, 2025.
• Meta expresses concerns over unclear guidelines and tight deadlines.
• The licensing aims to address financial scams, cyberbullying, and online sexual crimes.
• Non-compliance may lead to legal action against companies.
• The Malaysian government remains firm on implementing the regulations despite industry pushback.

On October 30, Meta criticized Malaysia’s licensing plan, saying it lacks clarity and gives little time for companies to comply. The company has not decided whether it will apply for the license due to uncertainties around the new rules.

In July, the Malaysian government stated that the new platform and messaging app operators with over eight million users are required to get a license. The government hopes that such regulation will assist in addressing various problems such as scammers on social media and cyberbullying.

Non-compliance by the stipulated deadline could lead to legal repercussions for companies that do not adhere to these guidelines. The plan has faced backlash from an industry group, including Meta, which urged the government to pause the move. However, Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that there will be no delays in accessing social media and telecommunication services and tech firms have to respect the Malaysian laws to do business in the country.

Meta's public policy director for Southeast Asia, Rafael Frankel, stated that the timeline for licensing is unusually fast and that the obligations for compliance are still not clear. He emphasized that regulations usually take time to develop and must balance safety with the need for innovation in the digital economy.

Despite these worries, the Malaysian government stresses the necessity of maintaining a safe online environment. Authorities have seen a considerable surge in harmful information on social media and expect companies like Meta and TikTok to step up their monitoring efforts.