(Kuala Lumpur, 7th) Derek John Fernandez, a member of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), stated that requiring all social media platforms with up to 8 million users to apply for an Application Service Provider license (ASP(C)) is a significant achievement in Malaysia's online regulation.
He described the initiative of mandatory license applications as a major accomplishment in improving online safety and control measures.
“The guidelines in this area aim to ensure that those applying for the license from us can provide a certain degree of security assurance and be responsible for managing and understanding the complaints they receive. They will investigate and take action to stop and prevent problems from arising.
“A self-regulation model will replace existing regulations, and I believe it should protect everyone. MCMC's efforts to tackle various challenges and implement this licensing for major social media providers is undoubtedly a significant achievement.”
He said this during a dialogue session at the 2025 International Regulatory Conference themed “International Cooperation in Online Regulation: Reflections of Practice.”
Derrick stated that social media users should know how their personal data will be used and hence must take responsibility to protect it.
“Your personal data should not be sold, and you should have the right to know where your information goes and to whom it is provided. Many people are unaware that the information contained in the photos you share on social media, such as your child's face, home address, license plate number, and other data, could be purchased by unknown entities, ones that neither the government nor we recognize.
“Therefore, all communication services, as evidenced by my colleagues in Brazil and Indonesia, focus on regulating the use of these facilities to ensure they do not harm users, customers, and the public.”
The annual conference with the theme “Towards the Quantum Frontier: Regulation and Innovation in the Age of Technology,” hosted by MCMC, was opened yesterday by Communications Minister Fahmi. It is a two-day event gathering industry leaders, policymakers, and international experts from ASEAN, Australia, the United States, and Saudi Arabia to explore digital regulation frameworks.
Earlier, Fahmi mentioned at the conference that MCMC has handled 4699 requests to remove content related to online gambling from the beginning of this year until now.
The 2025 International Regulatory Conference aims to discuss how to balance technological advancements with regulatory developments in the rapidly evolving online environment.