Framework for social media registration, regulations to be introduced

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will provide a framework within a month to allow all social media platform providers to register with the agency and facilitate the regulation of such platforms in the country.

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said MCMC needed some time to complete the framework, including gathering matters from external experience and the commission’s previous discussions with social media platform providers.

“One of the things we will do in the near future is to ensure that all social media platforms are registered with MCMC. So far, no one has registered,” he told reporters after appearing as a guest for the recording of the Suara Anak Muda programme at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage here last night.

Fahmi also reiterated his previous statement that the government does not intend to block or close any social media platform in this country for the time being, including TikTok, in order to prevent the spread of defamatory information on the platform.

However, he insisted that the government would take action if any party or platform made the wrong move by allowing extremist statements to be widely disseminated on their platform.

“If we look at the situation in Indonesia, they also do not intend to ban or close down TikTok, but to regulate, while for TikTok Shop, they see, among other things, that they do not want products from abroad to be dumped in Indonesia.

“In Malaysia, it is more in the domain of other ministries, but we will discuss with some other ministries to coordinate some actions once we get the information,” he said.