Malaysia mulls developing own social media platform for its citizens: Minister
Malaysia considers developing its own social media platform to ensure user safety, as existing platforms profit without adequate protection.
Malaysia's Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that the government is exploring the possibility of developing its own social media application for its citizens. This consideration arises from the belief that current social media platforms profit significantly from Malaysian users without ensuring their safety. Fahmi highlighted that Facebook alone earned approximately US$600 million from Malaysia last year but lacked a commitment to user safety, prompting the need to assess the development of a national platform.
Fahmi also disclosed a meeting with celebrity host Aznil Nawawi, who proposed the idea following Meta’s removal of Palestine-related posts. Fahmi emphasized the importance of conveying responsible social media usage, particularly to children under 13, and shared this message with Aznil to communicate to his followers. Additionally, Fahmi scheduled a meeting with Meta to discuss the removal of content related to Palestine on the Prime Minister’s social media accounts, ensuring Meta’s compliance with not censoring pro-Palestinian rally content.
In response to these issues, Malaysia introduced a new regulatory framework requiring all social media platforms with over eight million users in the country to obtain a class licence by Jan 1 next year. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will enforce this regulation, with firms required to apply annually. Non-compliant companies may face fines of up to RM500,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both, adding legislative power to ensure safer internet usage for Malaysian families and children.