From January 2026, Malaysia will no longer wait for major social media platforms to voluntarily register. Instead, platforms with more than eight million local users will be automatically deemed registered under Malaysian law.
The change, announced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, reflects a growing recognition that the country’s online safety challenges can no longer be addressed through light-touch oversight. Platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are expected to fall under the new rule due to their scale and reach.
By classifying large platforms as licensed application service providers, companies operating at massive scale must answer directly to local regulations, especially when user harm occurs.
Platforms can continue operating as global services, but they will now be expected to comply more clearly with local standards around safety, moderation and cooperation with authorities.
Importantly, the automatic registration system avoids the delays and loopholes that can come with manual licensing. Platforms already registered will remain covered until their licences expire, after which the new framework applies.
