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KUALA LUMPUR: Asian industry groups including Google, Meta and X have called on the Malaysian government to suspend a plan to Requiring social media services to apply for licensesciting a lack of clarity in the proposed regulations.
In July, Malaysia’s communications regulator said social media platforms with more than 8 million users in the country would have to apply for licenses starting this month as part of its efforts to combat cybercrime.
The regulator said the platforms could face legal action if they fail to do so by January 1, 2025.
The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), whose members include Apple Inc, Amazon.com Inc and Grab, said in an open letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday that the proposed licensing system was “unworkable” for the industry and could unduly burden companies, thereby stifling innovation.
The group said the plan had not yet been subject to formal public consultation, leading to uncertainty in the industry about the scope of obligations that social media platforms would face.
“No platform can be registered under these circumstances,” Jeff Paine, managing director of the AIC, wrote in the letter posted on the group’s website.
Malaysia’s communications ministry declined to comment on the letter. The prime minister’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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