Social media platforms positive on new regulations - Fahmi

Social media platforms have responded positively to the need for licensing for a safer internet, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said in meetings with various platforms during a three-day working visit to Singapore, they acknowledged the need to comply with Malaysian law and are willing to participate.

“My meetings with the social media platforms have been very productive. They acknowledge that Malaysia is an important market for their respective platforms.

“I’m happy to say that all of these social media platforms are prepared to come on board,” he told Bernama and Nikkei Asia in an interview at the end of the working visit today.

Fahmi met with officials from platforms such as Meta, Google, TikTok, and Tencent to update them on the new regulatory framework and discuss online security and potential collaborations to combat illegal activities.

He said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will publish a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Aug 1 to provide more details on the framework and mechanism of the licensing.

It will also conduct a series of public engagements from Aug 1 to Jan 1 to create a code of conduct that will serve as a reference for licensees under the framework.

Prior to this, Fahmi said the MCMC started engagements with all the platforms in February, relating to issues faced by Malaysia on their platforms.

Last Saturday, MCMC said it will introduce a new regulatory framework for safe internet use on Aug 1, with implementation set for Jan 1, 2025.

Under the new framework, social media and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must apply for an Application Service Provider Class Licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).

Instagram highest compliance, X lowest

Meanwhile, the minister said the issue of non-compliance was also raised during the meetings with the platforms, and they are prepared to work with the ministry on this matter.

“We understand their business and regulatory processes, their community guidelines or community standards. But on the regulator and government side, we also hope they will understand the kind of expectations that we have of them.

“So, we hope to meet in the middle and I believe this can be done,” he said.

Last week, Fahmi said MCMC’s monitoring found varying levels of compliance with Malaysian laws among the platforms, with some prompt and compliant, some slow to respond to the authorities, and some not complying at all.

Fahmi said Instagram recorded a compliance rate of 88 percent, followed by Facebook (85), WhatsApp (79), TikTok (76), Telegram (65), and X with the lowest compliance rate at 25 percent.

- Bernama

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