As Malaysia steps up social media controls, TikTok calls for self-regulation of online content

TikTok has made a case for self-regulation of content shared on social media platforms, as Malaysia’s government ploughs ahead with plans to tighten laws governing social media in the country with a binding licence.

Critics have slammed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration for imposing what they say are regressive regulations that, in addition to controlling content seen as harmful, could threaten freedom of speech and potentially lead to social media companies going cold on Malaysia’s market.

Speaking at a panel discussion on regulating social media, TikTok Malaysia’s head of public policy urged the government against taking a top-down approach to moderating content on social media as it could easily impinge on the rights of users to freedom of speech and expression.

“Self-regulating is critical … if there is a licensing regime or framework, we will embrace it. However, it has to be a very collaborative effort,” Anuar Fariz Fadzil, of the micro-video sharing app, said on Tuesday at the Praxis 2024 public policy conference.

“There is a critical need to differentiate between propaganda, misinformation and disinformation and how there are grey areas that may breach freedom of expression and freedom of speech.”

TikTok is the first social media platform to take a public position on Malaysia’s planned regulatory tightening, two weeks after the government formally launched the licensing process for social media companies to continue operating in the country.

Social media and internet messaging platforms with more than 8 million Malaysian users now have until New Year’s Eve to secure a licence or risk being penalised under existing cyber laws.

The government is also working on a new law to govern the conduct of social media