Meta won’t join Malaysia’s social media licensing framework, proposes talks

Meta, the tech firm behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has said it will refuse to sign onto Malaysia’s social media licensing framework despite criticisms that its platforms carry content damaging to children and young people and wants to hold talks with the government on the matter.

Malaysia imposed the framework for all social media and online messaging platforms in January that have at least 8 million local users each to curtail surging scam cases, online gambling and the spread of child sexual abuse material.

The country is also mulling a ban on smartphone use for children aged 16 and below, a proposal rejected as state overreach by tech giants, which make billions of dollars from advertising and data collection.

Under Malaysia’s rules, the three platforms in Meta’s stable have to secure licensing approval, given their estimated combined base of 50 million local accounts and that they each have more than 8 million users.

Failure to do so could result in Meta facing fines of 500,000 ringgit (US$118,500) and jail of up to five years for its officers.

Meta has pushed back, saying it had been driving improvements to its own internal youth safety regulations and anti-scam protocols even before Malaysia’s licensing regime was made law.