PARENTS and educators across Malaysia are expressing relief following the enforcement of the Deeming Provision, which mandates automatic registration for all major internet messaging and social media service providers with over eight million users, effective from January 1, 2026.
The policy is being viewed as a critical tool in safeguarding children from online risks while promoting responsible digital usage.
Teacher Ramallah Abd Rahman, 40, said she welcomed the measure, describing it as timely and essential for shielding children from exposure to harmful content online.
“It not only enhances safety, but also helps develop a more responsible and structured internet ecosystem for young users. Such controls are essential to ensure that children have access to appropriate and safe content,” she told Bernama.
Parents are also supportive.
Technical assistant Nor Mohd Shahril Md Ariffin, 41, whose two children are aged five and eight, said the mandatory registration of service providers would help create a safer and more ethical digital environment.
“While we do not allow our children to use mobile phones, they are still exposed to the internet through platforms like YouTube. They spend a significant portion of their day at school, where they may access the internet via their friends’ devices,” he explained.
Educators highlighted the policy’s potential to reduce cyberbullying and shield students from inappropriate content. Teacher Nik Nurul Haslinda Nik Abd Razak, 40, noted, “The tighter controls on messaging and social media platforms will help protect students from unhealthy digital content. However, parents must also play an active role in monitoring their children’s social media activities.”
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced on December 15, 2025, that under Section 46A of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, all internet messaging and social media service providers with eight million or more users in Malaysia will automatically be deemed registered as Application Service Provider Class, or ASP(C) licensees, from January 1, 2026.
The commission said the measure ensures that major providers operating in Malaysia comply with the country’s legal and regulatory framework in a consistent, orderly, and effective manner, thereby creating a safer digital environment for all users, particularly children. - December 29, 2025
