Tech Giants Oppose Malaysia's Social Media Licensing Plan

The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), comprising tech giants like Google, Meta, and X, has urged Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to reconsider a proposed social media licensing plan, citing a lack of clarity and potential negative impacts on innovation and investment. The Malaysian government, led by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, is open to discussions but plans to proceed with regulations requiring social media platforms with over eight million users to obtain licenses by January 1, 2025, to combat cybercrime. The AIC expressed concerns over the absence of formal public consultations and described the licensing requirements as 'unworkable.' Despite the backlash, the Malaysian government emphasizes that tech companies must comply with local laws. The controversy has led to revisions in the AIC's open letter, removing certain critical statements and listings of member companies. Grab, an AIC member, stated it was not consulted about the letter's content.