Meta: MY social media licensing plan lacks clarity, threatens innovation

Meta Platforms has not yet decided whether or not to apply for a social media license in Malaysia, due to a lack of clarity over the new regulations, Meta's director of public policy for SEA Rafael Frankel reportedly said. In an interview with Reuters, Frankel expressed that the timeline to apply for a license was "exceptionally accelerated", and the obligations for social media firms under the plan remained unclear. 

This is especially since regulations tend to take a couple years to go through multiple iterations, to properly structure them, and to balance the need for safety that don't "inadvertently cap innovation and digital economic growth", Frankel reportedly said. 

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In addition, Frankel said Meta does not need a licensing regime to take online safely seriously as it already shares the Malaysian government's goal for a safe online environment.

He added that Meta was working closely with the government to remove or restrict harmful content from its platforms.  Without providing additional details, Frankel reportedly said that Meta has shared its concerns with the government and hopes to "bridge the differences". 

Frankel's comments come as communications minister Fahmi Fadzil posted a statement on Facebook to "remind Meta" that the government's intention to impose the license is to address issues of crime migrating to social media. These crimes include scams, online gambling, cyber bullying and sexual crimes against children. 

Fahmi added that Meta has agreed to provide feedback and that it will hold further discussions with MCMC to examine some of the aspects in more detail.

Fahmi also called out Meta in the statement, saying "I also rebuke Meta for still failing to address pedophilia and child sexual grooming crimes, especially on the Facebook platform."

"Meta needs to be much more proactive in targeting groups on Meta's social media accounts that are responsible for such sexual crime activities," said Fahmi in his Facebook statement. 

The 1 January 2025 deadline to apply for a social media license is inching closer. Failure to do so will result in a fine or jail.  In June this year, it was reported that the Malaysian government was set to license and regulate social media and messaging apps.

The license was reportedly aimed to facilitate revenue-sharing with local content producers and to end harmful and illegal content online. It would also involve platforms such as Meta, Google, TikTok and X as well as a host of other platforms with more than eight million Malaysian users. In July, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said that social media platforms had responded positively to the need for licensing under the new regulatory framework that will be implemented next year. 

The minister said the various platforms he met in Singapore have acknowledged the need to comply with Malaysian law and are willing to participate in the process. 

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