Malaysia grants licenses to WeChat, TikTok under new social media law

Malaysia’s communications regulator has granted operating licenses to Tencent’s WeChat and ByteDance’s TikTok under a new social media law aimed at combating rising cybercrime, news reports said on Thursday. The law, which came into effect on January 1, requires platforms with more than 8 million users in Malaysia to obtain a license or face legal action.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) confirmed that Telegram is nearing completion of its licensing process, and Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has begun the application. However, X (formerly Twitter) did not apply, claiming its local user base does not meet the 8 million threshold; the regulator is reviewing this claim.

Google, which operates YouTube, also has not applied, citing concerns over YouTube’s classification under the law, though these concerns were not specified. The MCMC warned that platforms failing to comply with the licensing requirements could face regulatory actions.

News reports emphasize that the new law follows a rise in harmful content on social media, including gambling, scams, child exploitation, cyberbullying, and content related to race, religion, and royalty. According to data, WeChat has 12 million users in Malaysia, while TikTok and YouTube have 28.68 million and 24.1 million users, respectively.