KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is set to announce the code of conduct for social media platform providers, said Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said that providers will need to abide by the code once the Class Licence for Application Service Providers comes into force on Jan 1 next year.
"The MCMC will publish the code of conduct by the end of Oct. It will be a guideline for all those that come under the licence.
"With the code, social media platform providers will know what their responsibilities are to Malaysians that use their platforms," he told reporters after attending a podcast "Be Kind Online" hosted by local influencer Hazeman Huzir in conjunction with the World Mental Health Day celebrations on Thursday (Oct 10).
Fahmi said that the social media platform providers have two months to study the code to make the necessary preparations concerning their licences.
All social media services and Internet messaging services, with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia, were required to apply for a Class Licence beginning Aug 1.
Failure to obtain a Class Licence for Application Service Providers under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 after the effective date would be an offence, said MCMC, adding that appropriate legal action can be taken under the Act.
The enforcement is effective on Jan 1, 2025.
Meanwhile, asked about the gist of the code, Fahmi he has yet to see details of the document as it is still being drafted by the MCMC.
He described the code as a "living document" which will allow the inclusion of new provisions to cater to new emerging technologies which may be used by social media platforms in the future.
He said the code aims to ensure a safer cyberspace for Malaysians, particularly against false news, online gambling and cyber-bullying, including restricting the use of social media by children under 13.
Although social media platform providers have their respective community guidelines, he said that it was only "lip service" as the guidelines were not implemented accordingly.
He added that there was also a lack of cooperation between local enforcement agencies and the social media platform providers to make cyberspace safer for all Malaysians.
"I believe that with the licensing framework, cooperation between the social media platform providers and agencies such as the MCMC, police and Attorney General Chambers will be much better," he added.
Once the licensing comes into force, he said that social media platform providers will have to abide by the laws under the Communications and Multimedia Act.
He said there already exist provisions under the Act to impose a RM500,000 fine on errant service platforms providers including a RM1,000 daily fine as long as the offence continues to be committed.
"Big tech may be big but the law is bigger than them," he said.
