Social media platforms to submit online safety plans by Dec 28

Licensed social media service providers must submit their online safety plans to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) by Dec 28, in line with the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866).

Deputy communications minister Teo Nie Ching said the plans must detail the measures and improvements that platform providers intend to implement to ensure a safer digital environment for users.

She said social media platforms were also expected to implement user age verification requirements in early January 2027, following the end of the current transition period.

“We are still in the transition period, and we expect platforms to implement this obligation in early January next year.

“All data on the number of accounts they have verified and closed will be submitted to us after the transition period,” she said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The deputy minister was responding to Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang), who sought clarification on social media platforms’ compliance with age verification requirements, including the number of accounts verified and blocked, as well as action against service providers that fail to meet their obligations.

Teo said MCMC had issued directives to social media service providers, including Meta, TikTok and Google, to ensure the implementation of age verification mechanisms. The commission has also requested the relevant information to monitor and assess compliance.

Teo said licensed service providers that fail to fulfil their obligations under the Online Safety Act could face enforcement action, including fines of up to RM1 million and an additional fine of up to RM100,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction.

On the threats posed by fake accounts and hate speech, Teo said the age verification mechanism for social media users aged 16 and above did not involve verifying their identities.

As such, she said the mechanism would not directly address the problem of fake accounts, which requires further examination and discussion regarding the appropriate measures.