Esha’s tragic death led to social media licensing rules

The death of 29-year-old online influencer A Rajeswary known as Esha on TikTok spurred the government to mandate licensing for social media and messaging platforms.

“I used to stand against tighter regulations. As a reformist, as somebody who fought against the status quo (before being in government), I am also very mindful of the things that we do today, how will it impact freedom of speech tomorrow”, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, reported Channel News Asia.

“At the same time, what really triggered this slew of rethinking about social media platforms and online messaging systems, that relationship between them and the government, was really this horrid case of a cyberbullying that led to a suicide in Malaysia”, he explained.

Esha tragically took her own life in early July after enduring online bullying.

The individuals involved have already been charged in court. 

B. Sathiskumar, 44, known online as Dullal Brothers through the TikTok profile @dulal_brothers_360, admitted guilt on June 30 to charges of posting lewd comments on social media to annoy others.

TikTok user Shalini Periasamy, 35, known as Alphaquinnsha, was fined a maximum of RM100 by the magistrate’s court.

On July 28, the MCMC revealed that beginning August 1, social media and messaging platforms in Malaysia with over eight million users must secure a government licence. 

This licensing requirement will come into effect on January 1, 2025.

Previously, under the Communications and Multimedia (Licensing) (Exemption) Order 2000, social media and messaging platforms were not required to obtain a licence.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the new licensing requirement is not intended to restrict political freedom.