social media licensing

Malaysia is planning to implement a social media licensing regime to share revenue with local content producers and combat harmful content, but concerns have been raised about potential overreach. Industry and civil society representatives have expressed reservations about the lack of emphasis on digital revenue-sharing and preemptive actions to prevent offenses. The Cabinet approved the licensing proposal in April, including major platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok. Concerns about freedom of speech have been heightened as Kuala Lumpur increases online censorship efforts. Stakeholders are also concerned about the lack of transparency in the drafting process and the government proposing a content code without sharing the draft with attendees of the briefings.