A coalition of Asian tech giants, including Google, Meta, and Apple, has urged the Malaysian government to reconsider its plan to require social media platforms to obtain a license, citing a lack of clarity and potential stifling of innovation.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) expressed concerns over the proposed regulations, which would affect platforms with over eight million users in Malaysia. The group argued that the licensing regime is “unworkable” and would impose undue burdens on businesses, leading to industry uncertainty and potential harm to Malaysia’s growing digital economy.
The AIC criticized the lack of public consultation and the tight implementation timeline, which could lead to legal action against non-compliant platforms by January 1, 2025. The group shared the government’s commitment to addressing online harms but sought clearer guidelines and a more collaborative approach.
Malaysia’s communications ministry and the prime minister’s office have yet to respond to the AIC’s concerns, which highlight the need for a balanced approach to regulating social media while promoting digital growth and innovation.
