GEORGE TOWN, July 30 — Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching has announced that new licensing regulations under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 will be implemented to hold social media platforms accountable and tackle rising cybercrimes. This initiative, which will take effect on January 1, 2025, requires social media and internet messaging services with over eight million users in Malaysia to obtain a Class Licence for Application Service Providers.
Teo emphasized that the move is essential to address the growing incidents of cybercrimes, including sexual crimes against children and online fraud, which have surged significantly in recent years. Teo highlighted alarming statistics, noting that sexual crimes involving children on social media rose from 360 cases in 2022 to 525 cases in 2023. Online fraud losses also soared from RM453 million in 2022 to RM1.2 billion last year. She reassured that the new regulations are in line with global practices in countries like Singapore and the UK and are not intended to restrict freedom of speech but to address critical issues such as gambling and fraud.
Additionally, Teo revealed plans to expand the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) initiative to enhance local information services.
