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No stop to social media licensing plans, ‘positive response’ from platforms: Fahmi | Scoop
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has said that the government will not delay the implementation of the regulatory framework on the licensing initiative. – Azim Rahman/Scoop file pic, August 27, 2024
News

No stop to social media licensing plans, ‘positive response’ from platforms: Fahmi

AIC’s appeal for pause not backed by all its members, communications minister points out

Main Author Image
Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain
Updated
5:55 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya is pushing ahead with its licensing requirement for social media platforms, as previous engagements with companies’ representatives were positive, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. 

The minister said this when commenting on the Asia Internet Coalition’s (AIC) recent demand for the government to halt its plans to licence social media platforms through new regulations set to come into effect next year. 

AIC posted on its website an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dated August 23 which was reported by various media outlets yesterday.

“I am of the view that my discussions with social media platform representatives in Singapore recently were positive. I am remaining firm on my stand,” Fahmi told reporters after an event in Sepang today. 

Asked if the government would delay the implementation of the regulatory framework on the licensing initiative, Fahmi briefly answered: “Nope.” 

He also pointed out that AIC’s appeal for a pause on the framework was not fully backed by all its members, as evidenced by the coalition’s removal of member companies’ endorsement logos in separate versions of the letter.

“It’s (also) a bit weird and awkward when Grab Malaysia had to issue a statement to state that they had no involvement in the open letter,” Fahmi said, referring to Grab’s clarification that while its company was mentioned in the document, it was “neither informed nor consulted” on the matter. 

The minister also stressed that the government, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has considered “all aspects” of the licensing initiative and remains open to discussing the move with stakeholders and industry players as it has “not finalised anything”.

“There is still room for discussion, (but) the government remains with its stand that social media platforms and online messaging systems need to adhere to a regulatory framework to ensure a safer online space, especially for our children.” 

In its open letter to Anwar on its website, the AIC expressed concern that the proposed regulations could hamper Malaysia’s growing digital economy, which has played its part in attracting significant investments for the nation.

The coalition, whose members include Apple Inc, Amazon and Meta, said that while it shared the government’s commitment to addressing online harms, the proposed implementation timeline left the industry with insufficient clarity and time to assess its implications.

Between August 1 and December 31, MCMC will hold engagement sessions with stakeholders, including social media and messaging system providers, to establish a code of conduct and outline actions for non-compliance.

Failure to comply with the licensing directive could result in charges under Section 126 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which carries a maximum penalty of a RM500,000 fine, five years in prison, or both. 

Providers could also be fined RM1,000 for each day the offence continues.

Fahmi previously highlighted that the main objectives of licensing social media services are to tackle online fraud, cyberbullying and sexual crimes against children, not to restrict freedom of expression. 

The Communications Ministry had on August 21 guaranteed that obtaining a licence for social media platforms to operate in Malaysia would be a straightforward process, with Fahmi saying that the licensing procedure should be completed within three to five working days. 

He added that the ministry is expecting to receive licensing applications from social media platform providers around October or November this year, following which the regulatory framework will take effect on January 1, 2025. – August 27, 2024

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