Malaysia’s communications regulator has granted licenses to Tencent’s WeChat and ByteDance’s TikTok under the country’s new social media law, according to Reuters. However, several other platforms have yet to apply for licenses.
The new law, which aims to combat cybercrime, came into effect on January 1, 2025. Under this regulation, social media and messaging platforms with over 8 million users in Malaysia are required to obtain licenses.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that messaging platform Telegram is nearing the completion of its licensing process. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has begun its licensing procedure.
On the other hand, X (formerly Twitter) has claimed that its user base in Malaysia is below 8 million and, therefore, it has not applied for a license. The MCMC is currently reviewing the validity of this claim.
YouTube’s parent company, Google, has yet to apply for a license. The MCMC expressed concerns over how YouTube’s video-sharing features should be classified under the new law. Nevertheless, YouTube is expected to comply with the regulations.
Earlier in 2024, Malaysia experienced a significant rise in harmful social media content. Authorities urged social media companies, particularly Meta and TikTok, to increase monitoring of their platforms.
Under Malaysian law, harmful content includes online gambling, fraud, child pornography and exploitation, cyberbullying, and topics related to race, religion, and monarchy.
