Malaysia grants operating licenses to WeChat and TikTok under new law

Malaysia's communications regulator has just granted licenses for Tencent's WeChat and ByteDance's TikTok to operate in the country under a new social media law, but several other platforms have yet to be approved.

Malaysian authorities have recently introduced new regulations to tackle the rise in cybercrime. Accordingly, social media platforms and messaging services with more than 8 million users must apply for a government license, or face legal action. The law will come into effect from January 1, 2025.

Malaysia's communications regulator has granted licenses for Tencent's WeChat and ByteDance's TikTok to operate in the country under new laws.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said that messaging platform Telegram is in the final stages of applying for a license, while Meta Platforms - the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp - has also started the licensing process.

According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Network X did not file the application because it believed the platform's local user base had not yet reached the 8 million threshold. The Malaysian regulator is reviewing the validity of X's complaint.

Alphabet's Google, which operates video platform YouTube, has not yet applied for a license after raising concerns about YouTube's video-sharing features and its classification under licensing laws, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said. It did not elaborate on the concerns, or how they relate to the law, but Malaysian authorities said YouTube must comply.

“Platform providers found to be in breach of licensing requirements may be subject to investigation and regulatory actions,” the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said.

TikTok has 28.68 million users in Malaysia.

Malaysia has reported a sharp increase in harmful social media content in early 2024 and called on social media companies, including Meta and short-video platform TikTok, to step up monitoring of their platforms.

Malaysian authorities consider online gambling, fraud, child pornography and grooming, cyberbullying and content related to race, religion or royalty to be harmful. So far, the companies have not disclosed the number of users by country on their platforms.

However, according to independent data provider World Population Review, WeChat has 12 million users in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, consulting firm Kepios said YouTube would have about 24.1 million users in Malaysia by early 2024, TikTok would have 28.68 million users aged 18 and above, Facebook would have 22.35 million users and X would have 5.71 million users.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/malaysia-cap-giay-phep-hoat-dong-cho-wechat-va-tiktok-theo-luat-moi-192250102164158598.htm