Digital Giants Advocate for Revised Malaysian Social Media Regulations

An Asian industry group, including major tech companies like Google and Meta, appealed to Malaysia to reconsider its new social media licensing requirements, citing lack of clarity and potential burdens on innovation. The Asia Internet Coalition's letter addressed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was later removed, stirring further questions.

An Asian industry group that includes tech giants Google, Meta, and X has urged Malaysia to pause a plan mandating social media services to apply for licenses, citing insufficient clarity over the proposed regulations.

The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) had its open letter removed from its website late Monday, without immediate explanation. Coalition member Grab stated it was neither informed nor consulted about the letter, and added that the governmental plan doesn't impact its operations.

In July, Malaysia's communications regulator declared that social media platforms with over eight million users must acquire licenses by this month to curb cybercrimes, with legal repercussions for non-compliance by Jan. 2025.

In a letter addressed to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, AIC, which includes Apple and Amazon, criticized the licensing regime as impractical and disruptive to innovation. The group also noted the absence of formal public consultations, leading to uncertainty about the scope of these new obligations.

Jeff Paine, AIC Managing Director, stated, "No platform can be expected to register under these conditions." Both Malaysia's communications ministry and the prime minister's office declined to comment.

The AIC warned that such regulations could impede the nation's burgeoning digital economy, despite shared government goals of addressing online harms. The industry group called for extended timelines to allow for proper compliance assessments.

Earlier this year, the Malaysian government reported a rise in harmful social media content, urging firms like Meta and TikTok to enhance monitoring on their platforms.

(With inputs from agencies.)