Starting August 1, Malaysia will require social media services with over 8 million users in the country to apply for a license, aiming to tackle increasing cyber offences. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission announced this decision to ensure social media and internet messaging services comply with laws addressing scams, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes.

Social media platforms that fail to apply for a license by January 1, 2025, will face legal action. Last week, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that social media firms have been directed to provide feedback on the government’s concerns about cybercrime and harmful content on their platforms.

Earlier this year, Malaysia saw a sharp increase in harmful social media content and urged firms like Facebook (Meta) and TikTok to enhance their monitoring efforts. Currently, the communications regulator can flag content that violates local laws, but removal decisions rest with the platforms.