Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) revealed that major platforms, including Elon Musk’s X and Google’s YouTube, have yet to comply with Malaysia’s new social media licensing law, which took effect on Wednesday.
Under the regulation, platforms with more than 8 million users in Malaysia must obtain a license by January 1, 2025.
The law aims to tackle cybercrime, including scams, cyberbullying, and child exploitation, amidst criticism of platforms’ perceived lax attitudes toward harmful content.
Compliance Status of Key Platforms:
- X (formerly Twitter): Claimed its Malaysian user base does not meet the 8 million threshold. MCMC is verifying this, noting that X reported 5.71 million users in Malaysia at the beginning of 2024.
- Google/YouTube: Engaged in discussions with MCMC over licensing concerns related to YouTube’s video-sharing functionalities.
- WeChat and TikTok: Ahead in compliance, with licensing agreements signed.
- Telegram: In the final stages of securing a license.
- Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp): Has begun the licensing process, which MCMC expects to conclude soon.
MCMC emphasized the importance of these regulations in addressing cybersecurity issues, though it has not disclosed penalties for non-compliance.
The commission continues to work with platforms to ensure their understanding and adherence to the new requirements.