Big Tech Giants Elon Musk's X and Google Yet to Apply for Malaysia's New Social Media License
- tech360.tv
- Jan 2, 2025
- 2 min read
Elon Musk's X and Alphabet Inc.'s Google, the parent company of YouTube, have not yet applied for a social media operating license in Malaysia, as required by the country's new law that came into effect recently. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission revealed that X stated its user numbers in Malaysia fell short of the eight million threshold needed for a license, with the commission currently verifying this claim.
Google has expressed concerns regarding the classification of YouTube's video sharing features within the new licensing framework, as stated by the commission in a recent announcement. Malaysia has joined other Asian nations in a bid to regulate online platforms and hold major tech companies accountable for illegal content. Officials from New Delhi to Canberra are increasingly seeking ways to oversee social media, which has the potential to influence public opinion on sensitive political matters.
The legislation, passed by Malaysia's parliament last month, includes amendments aimed at addressing online issues such as scams, cyberbullying, pedophilia, and child pornography. Tencent's WeChat was among the first to secure a license under the new regulations, followed by ByteDance's TikTok. Telegram has also submitted an application for a license, while Meta Platforms Inc., the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has initiated the licensing process for its platforms.
Failure to comply with the licensing requirements could result in platforms being investigated or placed under supervision, according to the commission.
Elon Musk's X and Google have not applied for Malaysia's new social media license.
Malaysia is part of a trend in Asian countries to regulate online platforms and hold Big Tech accountable for illegal content.
Tencent's WeChat and ByteDance's TikTok have obtained licenses, while Telegram and Meta Platforms Inc. are in the process of applying.
Source: THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE
