PETALING JAYA: Social media platforms will need to have child safety measures, including blocking access for children below the age of 13, under a new licensing framework.

Under the scheme which went into effect yesterday, platforms must also have robust user data protection policies and measures, mandatory transparency in advertising and restrict ads that promote scams, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said.

They must also regularly report their compliance with Malaysian laws, the MCMC said in an information sheet revealed yesterday.

“In the event of any breach of these conduct requirements, MCMC will first assess the nature of the breach including its severity, impact, and frequency.

“MCMC can initiate actions ranging from administrative warning, issuance of compliance direction to rectify the breach, imposing civil penalty or compound offences to proportionately deal with the breach,” it said.

“In the most severe and grave nature of breach, MCMC can suspend access to said service provider’s platform; de-register their Applications Service Provider Class (ASP (C) licence; or commence prosecution.”

These rules are part of the ASP (C) licence that all social media platforms with at least eight million users must apply for starting yesterday.

Platforms that continue to operate without the ASP (C) licence by Jan 1 next year can be fined up to RM500,000 or five years’ jail or both. They may also be fined RM1,000 for each day or part of a day, for an offence that continues.

Each licence is only valid for one year after the registration date and platforms will then need to re-apply every year, provided they meet the threshold of having eight million or more users in Malaysia, the commission said.

Platforms must apply for a licence under a locally incorporated company.

“However, under sub-regulation 23(2) of the Communications and Multimedia (Licensing) Regulations 2000, the Minister has the discretion to allow a foreign company to be registered as a class licensee on a case-to-case basis,” it added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/02/new-licensing-framework-enforces-child-safety-online