While a new regulatory framework is set to kick into gear in less than two months, requiring social media operators to apply for a licence, the government apparently has no plans to ban any unlicensed platforms. This is according to communications minister Fahmi Fadzil, who answered questions about the upcoming licensing requirement in parliament.
Fahmi explained that the requirement under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) aims to ensure that service providers are accountable and take part in creating a safer online ecosystem for users. He said that users will still be able to access platforms that fail to register for the licence after the regulation comes into force on 1 January 2025.
The minister added that blocking access to social media platforms is a last resort and that the government does not wish to go in that direction. Of course, this does not mean that the licensing regulation is toothless, as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has previously stated that operators that fail to comply with the regulation by the deadline will have committed an offence that could result in legal action under the CMA.
The new regulation requires all social media and online messaging platforms with at least eight million users in Malaysia to apply for the licence from the government. Last month, the MCMC published a draft of the upcoming Code of Conduct for Internet Messaging Service Providers and Social Media Service Providers and opened it up to public feedback. Among other responsibilities, licensed platforms will be required to use effective age verification measures and submit a half-yearly safety report to the commission.
(Source: Bernama)
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