Malaysian Government Mandates Licenses for Social Media Companies

An Asian industry group that includes Google, Meta, and X has called on the Malaysian government to pause a plan requiring social media services to obtain a license. The proposed regulation, announced in July, mandates that platforms with more than eight million users in Malaysia apply for a license starting this month, aiming to tackle cybercrime.

The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), which also includes Apple Inc, Amazon, and Grab, argues that the licensing regime is "unworkable" and could stifle innovation by placing undue burdens on businesses. The group also notes the lack of formal public consultations on the plan, leading to uncertainty about the specific obligations for social media platforms.

The AIC was formed in 2010 to advocate for the understanding and solving of Internet policy matters in the Asia Pacific area. The goal is to advocate for the internet industry and engage in fostering a conversation between public and private sectors, exchanging expertise and thoughts on internet technology and the digital economy.

In an open letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, AIC Managing Director Jeff Paine stated that no platform could realistically register under the current conditions. The communications ministry declined to comment, and the prime minister's office did not respond to requests for comment.