MalayMail-Jan 7
Social media companies now have to play by the rules of a new law in Malaysia, but they may find it actually benefits them. On January 1, these two key events affecting these companies happened in Malaysia. 1. For social media and internet messaging companies with at least eight million users in Malaysia (think: WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, WeChat, TikTok, YouTube), they are considered automatically registered as licensees under the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998. This means they are now regulated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and have to follow Malaysia’s laws including the CMA and ONSA. 2. Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA) applies to these social media, internet messaging platforms now. ONSA does not license any companies, but its regulations apply to licensees under CMA. ONSA clearly states the eight mandatory duties for platforms to ensure Malaysians’ online safety, including removing harmful content. MCMC deputy managing director (development) Eneng Faridah Iskandar said both CMA and ONSA will provide “regulatory certainty” — which is desired by international companies such as platforms when making investment decisions. “When they want to invest in countries, companies will do a due diligence, and part of the due diligence requirements is that the rules must be written,” she told Malay Mail in a recent interview. Eneng Faridah said companies would also want transparency, such as clear procedures on enforcement against non-compliance. “So those are two key components. Both CMA and ONSA have that,” she said. “And our intent for regulation is for public good, it’s not about anything else other than that. Because we want to together with you fight the common enemy, because we want to create a safer online environment,” she said. Read more at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/07/heres-why-social-media-firms-may-come-to-love-malaysias-new-online-safety-act/204186
