Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has objected to regulatory licensing for social media platforms mandated by the government in Malaysia.
According to a Meta official, the licensing plan lacks clear guidelines and potentially threatens digital innovation in the country. The new rules require tech companies to apply for a licence from the government by January 1, 2025, or they will face legal action.
Rafael Frankel, Meta’s director of policy for Southeast Asia, has told Reuters that the company has not yet determined whether it will apply for the licence. Social media platforms with over eight million users are obliged to obtain the regulatory licence.
Frankel termed the time window to acquire licences “exceptionally accelerated” and remarked there’s no clarity around obligations for social media companies under the new rules. In addition, Frankel raised concerns about the potential adverse impact of licensing on digital innovation in Malaysia.
In July, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) released a notification on the new licensing framework. The commission said it aimed to combat online scams and fraud, sexual crimes against children, cyberbullying, etc. The regulations were unveiled on August 1, 2024.
Social media companies will be obligated to obtain a licence from the government under the Communications and Multimedia Act, 1998 (Act 588). The firms were previously exempted from licensing requirements under the country’s Communications and Multimedia (Licensing) (Exemption) Order 2000.
