KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) decision to licence all major social media platforms is a crucial step towards creating a safer online environment, Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong has said.
By having stricter criteria and regulations in place, Khoo said authorities would be able to protect vulnerable individuals and children from dangers on the internet.
The DAP lawmaker said online platforms were still unsuccessful in creating a safe space for users, pointing out that children actively used their services despite a minimum age requirement of 13 years.
Additionally, given that the MCMC does not have the power to remove unsafe content, social media platforms demonstrate poor compliance with takedown requests from authorities.
“Simply put, these platforms do not respond to the MCMC.
“Hence, strengthening our regulatory framework by requiring social media platforms to become licensees of the MCMC, making them accountable for their actions, is a much-needed action,” Khoo said in a statement.
He said politicians from both sides of the political divide also supported stricter regulations on online content.
Yesterday, the MCMC announced that all major social media platforms offering services in the country would be required to hold a licence, citing a spate of online scams, cyberbullying cases and other offences.
The MCMC said all social media outlets and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must apply for a Class Licence for Application Service Providers under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
This move, the MCMC says, is in line with the regulatory body’s goal to introduce a safer internet regulatory framework for children and families on August 1, which will come into force on January 1 of next year. – July 28, 2024
