Malaysia tightens social media oversight with new licensing law
Authorities have observed a rise in harmful online content, urging platforms to enhance content monitoring.

Malaysia’s communications regulator has granted licenses to Tencent’s WeChat and ByteDance’s TikTok under a new social media law designed to combat rising cybercrime. The law, effective from 1 January, mandates that platforms and messaging services with over 8 million users in Malaysia must obtain a license or face legal consequences.
While messaging app Telegram is close to completing the licensing process, Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has just started compliance steps. Other major platforms face scrutiny under the law. X, formerly known as Twitter, claims its user base in Malaysia falls below the 8 million threshold, a claim currently under review by authorities.
Alphabet’s YouTube has not applied for a license, citing concerns about how the law applies to its video-sharing features. The regulator emphasised that non-compliance could lead to investigations and regulatory actions.
The move follows a surge in harmful online content earlier this year, prompting Malaysian authorities to urge tighter monitoring from social media companies. Content related to online scams, child exploitation, cyberbullying, and sensitive topics such as race, religion, and royalty is classified as harmful.
Platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube reportedly have millions of active users in Malaysia. TikTok has over 28 million users aged 18 and above, highlighting the region’s high stakes of regulatory compliance.