Social media providers without valid licence may face fines, jail, warns Fahmi

Social media providers without a valid licence by 1 January may face fines or jail, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil reportedly said. 

The action can be taken under Section 126 of the Communications and Multimedia Act where if found guilty, the service provider can be fined not more than RM500,000 or five years' jail or both, Fahmi reportedly said.

They may also be fined RM1,000 for each day or part of a day, as long as the offence continues, he reportedly added, while speaking at an engagement session. 

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The minister also stressed that the licensing only applies to social media platforms and was not aimed at regulating social media users or influencers, said The Star. 

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said that all social media services and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must apply for a class license beginning 1 August.

Failure to obtain a class licence under the communications and multimedia act 1998 after the effective date would be considered an offence. It will come into effect on 1 January 2025.

The service providers have until 31 December to register before implementation is enforced. 

In tandem, the minister reportedly addressed concerns about whether the licensing of social media platforms would allow the government to arbitrarily shut them down. 

Until 31 December, the 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 certain actions and directives are ignored by licensees, Fahmi reportedly said. 

He reportedly added that the purpose of licensing was aimed to address three core issues, namely scams, cyberbullying and sexual crimes against children, and is not aimed at restricting freedom of speech. 

The minister reportedly added that the FAQ released by the MCMC will also cover the actions users or platforms can take if they wish to refer to or appeal any directive or decision made. It will also help better understand the government's efforts. 

Fahmi reportedly said that engagement sessions had been held with MPs and NGOs and that the sessions will continue to ensure that Malaysians understand the government's move. 

He added that the government wants a better atmosphere, especially in ensuring that the internet is safer for children and families. 

According to Fahmi, social media platforms have responded positively to the need for licensing under the new regulatory framework that will be implemented next year. 

The minister, who has been in Singapore for a three-day work trip, said the various platforms he met have acknowledged the need to comply with Malaysian law and are willing to participate in the process. 

In Singapore, the minister reportedly met with officials from Meta, Google, TikTok and Tencent to update them on the new regulatory framework as well as discuss online security and potential collaborations to combat illegal activities online. 

Photo courtesy Fahmi Fadzil, Facebook

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