Fahmi discusses social media licensing with Singapore minister

 

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil with Singapore’s digital development and information minister Josephine Teo during their meeting today. (Bernama pic)

SINGAPORE: 

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil held bilateral talks with Singapore’s digital development and information minister Josephine Teo here today, focussing on social media platform licensing.

The one-hour discussion at Teo’s ministry revolved around ensuring a safe internet environment, particularly for families and children.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on Saturday announced that all social media services and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users must apply for a class licence beginning Aug 1 as part of a new regulatory framework that will be introduced.

Singapore has had a regulatory framework over social media platforms in the country since 2022.

Fahmi, who is on a three-day working visit, also met with officials from Teo’s ministry and the Infocomm Media Development Authority, a statutory board that develops and regulates the media sectors in Singapore.

Among others, the delegation was briefed on Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, Online Criminal Harms Act, and the handling of crises and emergencies, such as the spread of false information related to public safety or community health threats.

Fahmi is also scheduled to meet with social media platform operators to address issues like scams, cyberbullying and pornography.

In a Facebook post, the communications minister said it was not too late for Malaysia to ensure that social media providers were held accountable for criminal activities occurring on their platforms.

These measures will create a safer online ecosystem and a better experience for users, especially for children and families,

 he said. - FMT