Social media licensing: Code of conduct to be unveiled by the end of October 2024

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has just announced that the new code of conduct for social media licensing will be unveiled latest by the end of October this year (2024). In the meantime, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is preparing the code draft.

According to the Minister, the code of conduct is designed for social media platforms to review over the next two months as a guideline before they proceed with their licensing applications. He also mentioned that It’s important for the platforms to understand their responsibilities towards Malaysian users.

No specifics laid out for the code of conduct just yet

When questioned about specifics on the code of conduct, Fahmi said that he has yet to receive detailed information about it from the MCMC. However, he promised that the code will constantly change according to the media landscape and will also evolve to platform requirements.

Additionally, the Minister mentioned that several new laws such as the Online Safety Act are set to be drafted. The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, will be overseeing the process.

Social media licence to take effect on the 1st of January 2025

As announced by the MCMC previously, the social media licence is set to take effect on the 1st of January next year (2025). Designed to regulate social media and internet messaging platforms, the licence is said to be necessary for creating a safer online environment for all Malaysians especially children and those vulnerable to online harm.

In August, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) issued an open letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, urging the government to pause the new framework and to carefully consider how this upcoming licensing regime aligns with its border economic goals before proceeding further.

The MCMC mentioned that all social media and internet messaging services with a minimum of 8 million registered users in Malaysia are obliged to apply for a Class A Application Service Provider Licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).

This includes platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, WeChat, Telegram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Applicable platforms that fail to obtain the licence after the enforcement period would be operating illegally and appropriate legal action will be taken under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

If you’re a regular user or content creator on those platforms, you need not worry, as this licensing is only for the applicable platforms or service providers and does not affect the end user as well as content creators on the respective platforms.

[SOURCE]