KUALA LUMPUR: A Meta Platforms official on Wednesday criticized Malaysia’s plan to require social media platforms to apply for a regulatory license by January, saying the proposal lacked clear guidelines and gave social companies little time to comply, risking digital innovation and growth in the country.
Malaysia said in July it will require social media platforms and messaging services with more than eight million users to obtain a license, as part of efforts to curb financial scams, cyberbullying and sexual crimes online.
The companies could face legal action if they failed to do so by Jan. 1, 2025.
The plan has faced a backlash, with an Asian industry group that includes Meta urging the government in August to pause the move. Malaysia however has said it will not delay the proposed regulations, with Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil saying tech companies must comply with local laws to continue operating the country.
Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia Rafael Frankel said the firm has not yet decided if it plans to apply for the license ahead of the January deadline, due to a lack of clarity over the new regulations.
The timeline to apply for a license was “exceptionally accelerated” and the obligations for social media firms under the plan remained unclear, Frankel said in an interview with Reuters.
“These regulations tend to take a couple years to go through multiple iterations... to properly structure them and to balance the need for safety and ensure that you don’t inadvertently cap innovation and digital economic growth,” he said.
Malaysia’s communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the interview.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday following a meeting with Meta representatives a day earlier, communications minister Fahmi thanked the company for its willingness to cooperate with the government but urged it to take more proactive measures against sexual content involving minors on its platforms.
Frankel said Meta shared the Malaysian government’s goal for a safe online environment and was working closely with the communications regulator to remove or restrict harmful content from its platforms.
“We don’t need a licencing regime in order to take online safety seriously. We already take it seriously,” he said.
Meta has shared its concerns with the government and hopes to “bridge the differences” over the proposed regulations before they are implemented, Frankel added, without providing details.
Malaysian authorities deem online gambling, scams, child pornography and grooming, cyberbullying and content related to race, religion and royalty as harmful.
Malaysia reported a sharp increase in harmful social media content earlier this year and urged social media firms, including Facebook parent Meta and short video platform TikTok (8645.HK), to step up monitoring on their platforms.
Meta says Malaysia’s social media licencing plan lacks clarity, threatens innovation
https://arab.news/24hvr
Meta says Malaysia’s social media licencing plan lacks clarity, threatens innovation
- Malaysia to require social media licenses by Jan. 1, says platforms must step up monitoring
- Meta says undecided if it will apply for licencing by deadline due to “exceptionally accelerated” iter and unclear obligations
UAE, Qatar reject Bloomberg reports on defense capabilities
- The ministry said the UAE operates diverse, integrated and multi-layered air defense systems capable of countering a full range of aerial threats
DUBAI: The UAE and Qatar have rejected Bloomberg’s reporting on their defensive capabilities, describing the claims as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the report did not reflect the country’s level of preparedness, technological sophistication or operational readiness. It said the UAE operates diverse, integrated and multi-layered air defense systems capable of countering a full spectrum of aerial threats, including long, medium and short-range systems that provide comprehensive protection of national airspace.
The ministry also said the country maintains a robust strategic stockpile of munitions to ensure sustained interception and response capacity over extended periods. It reaffirmed that the UAE’s defense capabilities and national security framework remain “steadfast and uncompromised,” stressing that the safety of citizens, residents and visitors remains a top priority.
In a separate statement, Qatar’s International Media Office denied a Bloomberg report claiming the country’s stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles had been depleted.
It said the inventory held by the Qatar Armed Forces “has not been depleted and remains well-stocked,” adding that the military remains at full readiness to defend the nation against external threats.
Qatar also criticized the publication of what it described as unverified information during a fast-moving and sensitive period in the region, calling it irresponsible and warning that it is reviewing all appropriate options, including legal measures, to ensure the information is corrected.
