MCMC to Step Up Talks With Social Media Platforms, Highlights Full Legal Accountability From Jan 2026

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has announced that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will intensify engagement with social media platforms to ensure compliance with national laws, with full enforcement beginning January 1, 2026.

Fahmi said feedback from platforms has been mixed — some have cooperated in tackling harmful content, while others have ignored complaints and information submitted by the regulator.

Although platforms with more than eight million users are no longer required to apply for a formal licence, he stressed that Malaysian laws remain fully applicable to them. The government wants to ensure platforms operating in Malaysia are accountable for the content and activities on their services, Fahmi stated.

Highlighting the rise in online scams, Fahmi warned that digital crime is becoming “increasingly worrying.” He cited international reports showing that some platforms profit from scam advertisements, raising questions about their responsibility.

“On that basis, and taking into account what is happening in other countries, the government sees justification in defining or deeming all social media platforms as licensed. There is no need to go through a licensing process, but the country’s laws apply,” he said, adding that Malaysia cannot afford to wait as victims of scams and digital abuse continue to grow.

MCMC announced in mid-December that social media platforms and internet messaging services with over eight million users in Malaysia were no longer required to formally apply for an operating licence, but remained fully subject to national laws, including the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and other related legislation. The initiative aims to hold providers accountable for illegal content such as scams, false information, fake accounts, and crimes involving children, strengthening safeguards for Malaysia’s digital space.