Fahmi Says New Social Media Licensing Isn’t About Users or Influencers
Picture Credit - The Sun
By Nityaasini Sivagami
Kuala Lumpur 2nd August : According to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, the new regulatory framework for social media site and online messaging platform licensing only applies to platform operators—users and influencers are not covered as stated in The New Strait Times.
Speaking on behalf of the unity government, Fahmi stated that consumers are exempted from licensing requirements; only social media service providers are required to comply. Fahmi Fadzil alerts social media companies that do not have a current license by January 1st, 2020, that they might fines or jail time, source The Star.
“For now, we have determined that action can be taken under Section 126 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. Under the Act, if found guilty, the service provider can be fined not more than RM500,000 or five years’ jail or both. They may also be fined RM1,000 for each day or part of a day, as long as the offence continues,” he told a press conference on Thursday (Aug 1 ) as stated in The Star.
Fahmi added that licensing was part of the government’s efforts to address three main issues: deceptions, cyberbullying, and sexual crimes, particularly those against children. Rather than curtailing freedom of speech, this was the purpose of licensing.
This legislation will be implemented on January 1, 2025 as stated in The Star
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