KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has initiated a significant regulatory step to bolster online safety by enforcing a Class Licence for Application Service Providers (CASP), specifically targeting social media platforms. Effective today, this requirement aims to increase oversight and user protection on digital platforms.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the licensing initiative is established under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588). It mandates that any social media and internet messaging service with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must obtain a licence, enhancing the government’s ability to regulate and ensure safer digital environments for users.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced on July 27, 2024, that non-compliance with this licensing requirement by the enforcement date would be considered an offence under Act 588, subject to potential legal action. By the end of 2024, platforms such as Telegram and Tencent’s WeChat had already submitted their applications, signaling compliance with the new regulation.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has previously emphasized the necessity of licensing to combat critical online issues, including cyberbullying and child grooming. He asserted that the ministry would actively monitor adherence to these regulations and enforce actions against platforms that fail to implement required age restrictions effectively.
In a significant legislative move, the Dewan Rakyat approved amendments to Act 588 on December 9, 2024. These amendments revised Section 211(c), substituting the term ‘person’ with ‘content application service provider’ and increasing the maximum fine from RM50,000 to RM1 million, applicable solely to CASP licence holders. This legislative change reflects a concerted effort to address contemporary digital challenges.
The push for these regulatory measures gained urgency following last year’s tragic incidents, such as the suicide of a TikTok influencer, allegedly linked to cyberbullying. The gravity of online threats was further underscored by ‘OP PEDO,’ an operation launched on December 23 by the police (PDRM) and MCMC, which targeted online sexual crimes. This operation resulted in the arrest of 13 local men, including a 74-year-old, and the confiscation of nearly 40,000 items of child sexual abuse material and adult pornography.