Musk's X, Google's YouTube Miss Malaysia's Social Media License Deadline

Elon Musk's X and Alphabet Inc.'s Google, which operates YouTube, have not yet applied for social media operating licenses in Malaysia under a new law that came into effect on Wednesday, as reported by Bloomberg, citing information released by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on January 1st.

X, formerly known as Twitter, reportedly cited insufficient user numbers in Malaysia as the reason for not applying. The company claims its Malaysian user base falls below the eight million threshold required for license eligibility. The MCMC is currently verifying this claim.

Google, meanwhile, has expressed concerns about the classification of YouTube's video-sharing features within the licensing framework, the MCMC revealed.

Malaysia's new legislation aims to increase oversight of online platforms and hold Big Tech companies accountable for illegal content. This approach aligns with similar initiatives in other Asian nations like India and Australia, where authorities are seeking ways to regulate social media's influence on politically sensitive matters.

The bill, which received parliamentary approval last month, amended existing laws to address online harms such as scams, cyberbullying, and child exploitation.

Tencent's WeChat and ByteDance's TikTok have already secured licenses under the new regulations, the MCMC noted. Telegram has also submitted a license application. Meta Platforms Inc., which operates Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has initiated the license application process.

Platforms that fail to obtain the necessary licenses face potential investigation and regulatory oversight, the MCMC warned.