Big tech companies not bigger than our laws, says Fahmi

 

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government would discuss with industry groups its plan to require social media platforms to apply for licences.

PETALING JAYA: 

Major tech companies must comply with local laws to continue operating in Malaysia, says communications minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Reuters reported him as saying the government would discuss with industry groups its plan to require social media platforms to apply for licences, but has no plans to delay the regulations’ implementation.

Fahmi said this in response to industry group Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) – whose members include tech giants Google, Meta and X – which had published an open letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urging him to pause the plan, citing a lack of clarity over the regulations.

Under the regulatory framework, social media platforms and messaging services with more than eight million users will be required to obtain licences and can face legal action if they fail to do so by Jan 1, 2025.

Big tech companies are big, but our laws are bigger. If they want to operate in Malaysia, they must respect and comply with our laws,

 said Fahmi, adding that earlier engagements with representatives of social media firms on the plan had been positive.

The AIC letter, originally dated Aug 23, was taken down from its website late on Monday.

Ride-hailing and food delivery firm Grab, also a member of the group, distanced itself from the letter, saying it was neither informed nor consulted over its content.

A new version of the letter, dated Aug 26, was later posted to AIC’s website with several sentences removed, including a reference to the government’s plan being 

unworkable

 for the industry.

The letter also removed a list of the AIC’s member companies, which remains available on the group’s website.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it had consistently engaged with service providers and law enforcement agencies, among others, on the regulatory framework’s implementation.

In a statement, MCMC said that it had provided platforms a five-month grace period as sufficient time to comply with the licensing requirements.

“Considering this, MCMC urges service providers to make every effort to ensure their operations align with local laws and regulations.

MCMC will undertake a public inquiry exercise to solicit feedback from all relevant parties to ensure that the final framework is fair, effective and reflective of the needs of both the industry and the public,

 it said. - FMT