A coalition of Asian tech giants, including Google, Meta, and X, has urged the Malaysian government to suspend a licensing scheme for social media services due to the absence of clear regulations. In July, Malaysia's communications authority announced that social media platforms with over eight million users must obtain a license starting this month to fight cybercrime. Failure to comply by January 1, 2025, could lead to legal repercussions, according to the regulator.
In a letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim dated Friday, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), which also comprises Apple Inc, Amazon, and Grab, described the licensing requirement as 'unworkable' and potentially detrimental to innovation by imposing excessive burdens on businesses. The AIC highlighted the lack of formal public discussions on the licensing plan, causing confusion among the industry about the extent of the obligations for social media platforms. 'No platform can be expected to register under these conditions,' wrote AIC Managing Director Jeff Paine in the letter published on the coalition's website. Neither the Malaysian communications ministry nor the prime minister's office provided comments on the letter.
The AIC further expressed worries that the proposed regulations might hinder Malaysia's burgeoning digital economy, which has seen substantial investment this year. The coalition acknowledged the government's efforts to combat online harms but argued that the proposed timeline lacked sufficient clarity and time for the industry to fully understand its implications. Earlier this year, the government noted a significant rise in harmful content on social media and called on companies like Meta and TikTok to enhance their monitoring efforts.
