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MCA today said there must be a balanced approach that ensures public safety while also protecting the public’s right to openly engage in discussions with regard to the licensing regime for social media platforms.
Party information chief Chan Quin Er said this was key to maintaining a healthy democracy in Malaysia.
“The government must take a clearer and more balanced approach by making the licensing process simple and focused on harmful content while protecting free speech.
“Vague rules could lead to unnecessary censorship. Additionally, introducing digital literacy programmes would empower the public to better recognise and report harmful content, thus reducing the need for overly restrictive regulations from the get-go,” she said in a statement.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is set to introduce a licensing regime for social media platforms in January 2025.
Under this new regulation, platforms with over 8 million registered users in Malaysia will be required to obtain an Applications Service Provider Class licence, as mandated by the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“The government defends this move as a necessary step to tackle the rising wave of cybercrimes such as online scams, cyberbullying, and harmful content, holding platforms accountable for the material they host.
“However, the proposal has faced significant opposition from civil society groups and tech firms, who argue that it poses a severe threat to digital freedom.
“Many fear that the regulations could be excessively broad, leading to potential misuse for silencing dissent and controlling online conversations,” said Chan.
She said concerns have grown as politically and economically sensitive content continues to be removed from platforms, sparking fears of increased censorship.
“While the goal of addressing cybercrime is important, it’s essential that these efforts do not come at the cost of basic freedoms like free expression.
“The licensing rules should be reviewed regularly to stay up-to-date with changes in the digital world.
“This helps avoid outdated or overly strict regulations. It’s also important to protect users’ privacy and make sure content moderation doesn’t lead to unnecessary surveillance or breaches of personal data,” she added.
Chan said there is a risk that licensing and regulation could lead to more frequent removal of content that challenges the status quo, especially in political and economic discussions.
This, she said, could damage public trust and erase important perspectives from the public record.
“To prevent this, content moderation must be clear and transparent, with independent oversight to review decisions and protect important content.
“Content should only be removed as a last resort, focusing on harmful material while allowing open discussion to continue,” added Chan. – September 7, 2024