Malaysia Takes Major Steps to Regulate Social Media Platforms

In a significant development for digital regulation, Malaysia has announced that some of the world’s leading social media and messaging platforms will now operate under its licensing framework. This change, effective from January 1, aims to formalize the operations of tech giants that previously functioned without official approval for over a year.

New Licensing Framework for Major Platforms

According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), any platform with over eight million users in Malaysia will automatically be considered licensed under local law, regardless of whether they have submitted an application. This automatic licensing addresses a regulatory gap that allowed these platforms to operate unlicensed until now.

Introduction of the Online Safety Act

This new regulation coincides with the implementation of the Online Safety Act (ONSA) 2025, which significantly enhances the powers of regulators. ONSA aims to hold platforms accountable for the dissemination of harmful content, online fraud, and risks to children. Analysts note that designating large platforms as licensed under the law effectively closes a loophole, ensuring that they are now subject to these strict new safety measures.

Expert Opinions on the Impact

While the move has been widely described as a bold initiative to enforce the provisions of ONSA, experts have mixed opinions regarding its effectiveness. Harris Zainul, director of research at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia, remarked, “The deeming of the platforms as licensees is a bold move by MCMC in operationalising ONSA. The way I see it, platforms have shown their hand throughout the past year by not registering for a licence.”

Looking Ahead

As Malaysia implements these regulations, the digital landscape is poised for change. The long-awaited licensing regime is expected to encourage platforms to take greater responsibility for the content shared on their services. Observers will be watching closely to see how these changes affect platform behavior and user safety in the coming months.