SINGAPORE, July 29 — Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil held bilateral talks with Singapore’s Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo here today, focusing on social media platform licensing.
The one-hour discussion at the Digital Development and Information Ministry (MDDI) aimed to ensure a safe internet environment, especially for families.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on Saturday announced all social media services and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must apply for a Class Licence from Thursday as part of a new regulatory framework that will be introduced.
Singapore has had a regulatory framework for social media platforms since 2022.
Fahmi, who is on a three-day working visit, was accompanied by Deputy High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore Khairul Nazran Abdul Rahman, as well as MCMC officials.
Before the meeting, Fahmi and his delegation met with MDDI officials and the Infocomm Media Development Authority, a statutory board that develops and regulates the infocomm and media sectors in Singapore.
The delegation was briefed, among others, on Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019, Online Criminal Harms Act 2023, and the handling of crises and emergencies such as the spread of false information on public safety or community health.
Fahmi will meet with social media platform operators to address issues related to online content, including scams, cyberbullying, and pornography.
Meanwhile, Fahmi, in a Facebook post, said among the issues discussed during his meeting with Teo were the challenges and regulatory processes of social media in Singapore, which have been implemented over the past two years.
Fahmi said it is not too late for Malaysia to ensure social media providers are held accountable for criminal activities on their platforms.
“These measures will create a safer online ecosystem and a better experience for users, especially for children and families,” he said.
— Bernama
