SHAH ALAM - In response to the growing threat to online user safety, particularly involving harmful content such as child sexual exploitation, scams and extreme cyberbullying, the government has taken significant action.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has mandated that all 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), effective from Jan 1, 2025.
This initiative marks one of the government’s first steps toward more ethical regulation of social media to curb the spread of negative content and culture.
However, experts argue that the government’s actions alone will not be enough to tackle the issue and emphasise the need for collective efforts from all social media operators.
Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka's Faculty of Electronics Technology and Engineering senior lecturer Dr Mohd Azlishah Othman said that social media platforms should ensure that content uploaded by users complies with established guidelines.
He stressed that crimes such as cyberbullying, online scams and child sexual exploitation are becoming more prevalent, requiring swift action to prevent further escalation.
"The government's move to require all social media and internet messaging services with at least eight million users to apply for licences is timely.
"This measure is essential to control emerging elements like artificial intelligence (AI), which can create misleading or harmful content," he said.
He added that society must also be more aware of these threats, as crimes are no longer confined to physical spaces but have moved to digital platforms, affecting individuals from the comfort of their homes.
"Today's crimes happen at the fingertips—through bullying, fake news and scams. Therefore, greater awareness through campaigns and education is crucial," he added.
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Smart Technology and Systems Research Cluster head Associate Professor Dr Azwa Abdul Aziz praised the government's initiative as a balanced approach to the social media usage ecosystem.
He emphasised that the enforcement of the Communications and Multimedia Act (Act 588) is aimed at addressing civil crimes on social media, not restricting free speech.
"This regulation is aimed at social media operators, not individual users.
"The goal is to curb crimes such as cyberbullying, child sexual exploitation and online fraud, ensuring operators are more accountable, Azwa said.
He also stated that such regulatory measures are not unique to Malaysia, with similar practices already implemented in countries like Europe, India and Singapore.
"This licencing will allow social media operators to strengthen control over the spread of false information, protecting users and preserving public order and information integrity," he added.
On Jan 2, the MCMC announced that four major Internet messaging and social media service providers have applied for licences to comply with the new regulatory framework.
Tencent (WeChat) was the first to be granted a Class A Application Service Provider Licence, followed by ByteDance (TikTok), which also obtained its licence.
Telegram is in the final stages of the licensing process and is expected to receive its licence soon.
The MCMC had previously outlined that all social media and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must apply for the licence by Jan 1, 2025, under the newly introduced regulatory framework, which will come into effect on Aug 1.