A parliamentary panel asked for details on takedown requests as activists raise freedom of speech concerns.
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s plans to license social media and messaging platforms, subjecting them to greater government oversight, has sparked increasing concern in recent weeks, with the country’s internet regulator summoned before a parliamentary select committee hearing on July 2.
“What is important is not to rush through the process without all stakeholders understanding each other so we can ensure we address the issue of freedoms versus abuse of power,” said Datuk Seri Saifuddin, who was communications and multimedia minister from March 2020 to August 2021. The administration, led by Datuk Seri Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition, had said when first mooting such licences in 2023, that the aim is to facilitate revenue-sharing with local content producers such as news media, as well as to stem what the authorities deem as harmful and illegal content.
These proposals were met with pushback from the platform owners themselves as well as from civil society. The signatories included electoral watchdog Bersih, the Centre for Independent Journalism, Amnesty International Malaysia, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance.
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