All Major Social Media Platforms With Over 8 Million Users to Be Deemed Licensed Starting 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, El Sky News – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has confirmed that all global Internet messaging and social media service providers that record eight million or more users in Malaysia will be officially deemed registered under the Application Service Provider Class Licence (ASP(C)) starting January 1, 2026.

This significant move is introduced to ensure that these technology giants have stronger accountability and comply with local laws, especially concerning aspects of consumer protection and cybersecurity.

Automatic Registration Through ‘Deeming Provision’

This decision will be implemented through the application of the ‘Deeming Provision’ under Section 46A of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998. This means that companies such as Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), Google (YouTube), ByteDance (TikTok), and Telegram, which clearly have a user base exceeding the established threshold, will not need to go through the standard licensing application process. Instead, the ASP(C) licence will be granted automatically.

According to an official statement from the MCMC, this automatic registration is part of the updated licensing framework for similar service providers, which came into effect on January 1, 2025.

Strengthening Monitoring and Consumer Protection

The MCMC’s main objective is to create a safer and more orderly digital environment. With a valid licence status, the authorities will have a clearer enforcement mechanism to address serious issues, including the dissemination of obscene content, cyberbullying, financial fraud, and the misuse of personal data.

Special attention is given to protecting the safety of children and families online. The ASP(C) licence will bind these platforms to cooperate more closely with the authorities in combating any activity that violates local laws.

Platform Operations Remain As Usual

Despite the change in licensing status, the MCMC guarantees that users in Malaysia will not experience any disruption to the daily operations of their favourite social media platforms or messaging services.

“This step is to regulate the companies, not the users. We ensure that these global platforms can function as normal, but are now subject to a clear Malaysian legal framework to safeguard the rights and safety of all citizens,” explained an MCMC spokesperson.

This development marks a new era in digital governance in Malaysia, where global technology platforms are required to take greater responsibility for the content and security of the services they provide to the local population.

(Leakim Otid)