SOCIAL media platforms without a valid licence by 1 January next year may face fines or imprisonment, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. He stated that action could be taken under Section 126 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA), with penalties including fines up to RM500,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had earlier announced that all social media and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users must apply for a Class A Application Service Licence under the CMA 1998. This measure will be enforced from 1 January 2025.
“We want a better atmosphere, especially ensuring that the internet is safer for our children and families. Many have asked whether licensing Meta Platforms Inc (Meta) would allow us to arbitrarily shut down Meta if, for example, it removes posts from the official account of Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim). The answer is no. Instead, from today until 31 December, MCMC will hold engagement sessions with all stakeholders, including social media platforms and internet messaging systems, to identify codes of conduct and what might happen if licensees ignore certain actions and directives,” he said.
He added that the purpose of licensing is not to restrict freedom of speech but is part of the government's efforts to address scams, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes, particularly against children. – August 1, 2024.
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