Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA): Difference between revisions
thank you for keith for pointing out a few reference not lining up. Key provision: Affected Platforms, sources changed according to Napoleon Cat and a statement from malaymail. remove Gov response being MCMC deputy had stated "This act is not about cencorship" and announced plans to publish quarterly transparency. Added a new Paragraph section called Public Petitions and Advocacy. Potential errors regarding reference on under-16 ban and criticism and concerns, will look onto that. |
m corrected ref link for MCMC's ONSA FAQ pdf. | I think most references exist, just their URL needs to be checked & corrected. Good starting point for an article though |
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Based on the 8 million user threshold, major platforms subject to the Act include: | Based on the 8 million user threshold, major platforms subject to the Act include: | ||
* '''Facebook''': With 31.3 million users (88.2% of population)<ref>https://stats.napoleoncat.com/social-media-users-in-malaysia/2025/</ref> | *'''Facebook''': With 31.3 million users (88.2% of population)<ref>https://stats.napoleoncat.com/social-media-users-in-malaysia/2025/</ref> | ||
* '''Instagram''': With 16.3 million users (46% of population)<ref>https://stats.napoleoncat.com/social-media-users-in-malaysia/2025/</ref> | *'''Instagram''': With 16.3 million users (46% of population)<ref>https://stats.napoleoncat.com/social-media-users-in-malaysia/2025/</ref> | ||
* '''Facebook Messenger''': With 23.8 million users (67.1% of population)<ref>https://stats.napoleoncat.com/social-media-users-in-malaysia/2025/</ref> | *'''Facebook Messenger''': With 23.8 million users (67.1% of population)<ref>https://stats.napoleoncat.com/social-media-users-in-malaysia/2025/</ref> | ||
* '''LinkedIn''': With 9.9 million users<ref>https://stats.napoleoncat.com/social-media-users-in-malaysia/2025/</ref> | *'''LinkedIn''': With 9.9 million users<ref>https://stats.napoleoncat.com/social-media-users-in-malaysia/2025/</ref> | ||
Other major platforms including WhatsApp, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Telegram, and WeChat also operate in Malaysia and are understood to exceed the 8 million user threshold.<ref>https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/01/enforcement-of-online-safety-act-takes-effect-strengthening-online-protections-for-children-and-families-says-mcmc/203923</ref> | Other major platforms including WhatsApp, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Telegram, and WeChat also operate in Malaysia and are understood to exceed the 8 million user threshold.<ref>https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/01/enforcement-of-online-safety-act-takes-effect-strengthening-online-protections-for-children-and-families-says-mcmc/203923</ref> | ||
===Categories of harmful content=== | ===Categories of harmful content=== | ||
The Act identifies nine categories of harmful content that platforms must address, including child sexual abuse material, financial fraud, harassment, incitement to violence or terrorism, and other harmful categories.<ref>https://www.mcmc.gov.my/skmmgovmy/media/General/ | The Act identifies nine categories of harmful content that platforms must address, including child sexual abuse material, financial fraud, harassment, incitement to violence or terrorism, and other harmful categories.<ref name=":0">https://www.mcmc.gov.my/skmmgovmy/media/General/pdf2/ONSA-FAQ-English.pdf</ref> Child sexual abuse and financial fraud are designated as "priority harmful content" subject to additional regulation and faster response requirements.<ref>https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2025/12/31/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-online-safety-act-2025</ref> | ||
===Platform obligations=== | ===Platform obligations=== | ||
Licensed providers must implement measures to reduce user exposure to harmful content, issue safety guidelines, provide online safety tools, provide user support mechanisms, and establish reporting channels for harmful content.<ref>https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/media/press-releases/online-safety-act-2025-to-take-effect-1-january-2026</ref> Platforms must submit an Online Safety Plan to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and make it publicly available.<ref | Licensed providers must implement measures to reduce user exposure to harmful content, issue safety guidelines, provide online safety tools, provide user support mechanisms, and establish reporting channels for harmful content.<ref>https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/media/press-releases/online-safety-act-2025-to-take-effect-1-january-2026</ref> Platforms must submit an Online Safety Plan to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and make it publicly available.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
They must also implement child-specific safeguards including limiting communication between children and adults, regulating recommendation systems to prevent harmful content exposure, addressing addictive design features, and protecting children's personal data.<ref>https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2025/12/31/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-online-safety-act-2025</ref> | They must also implement child-specific safeguards including limiting communication between children and adults, regulating recommendation systems to prevent harmful content exposure, addressing addictive design features, and protecting children's personal data.<ref>https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2025/12/31/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-online-safety-act-2025</ref> | ||
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Transparency advocates called for MCMC to publish clear enforcement guidelines, data on content removal requests, and regular reports on how the Act is being implemented to ensure accountability.<ref>https://sinarproject.org/digital-rights/updates/online-safety-act-transparency-demands</ref> The lack of public information about how "harmful content" determinations are made raised concerns about arbitrary or inconsistent enforcement.<ref>https://www.cijmalaysia.net/2025/12/statement-online-safety-act-2025/</ref> | Transparency advocates called for MCMC to publish clear enforcement guidelines, data on content removal requests, and regular reports on how the Act is being implemented to ensure accountability.<ref>https://sinarproject.org/digital-rights/updates/online-safety-act-transparency-demands</ref> The lack of public information about how "harmful content" determinations are made raised concerns about arbitrary or inconsistent enforcement.<ref>https://www.cijmalaysia.net/2025/12/statement-online-safety-act-2025/</ref> | ||
== Public Petitions and Advocacy == | ==Public Petitions and Advocacy== | ||
=== Stop eKYC Petition === | ===Stop eKYC Petition=== | ||
In November 2025, a Change.org petition titled "Stop eKYC for social media in Malaysia and promote digital literacy" was launched opposing mandatory identity verification requirements for social media users.<ref>https://www.change.org/p/stop-ekyc-for-social-media-in-malaysia-and-promote-digital-literacy</ref> The petition raises several concerns about the eKYC requirement: | In November 2025, a Change.org petition titled "Stop eKYC for social media in Malaysia and promote digital literacy" was launched opposing mandatory identity verification requirements for social media users.<ref>https://www.change.org/p/stop-ekyc-for-social-media-in-malaysia-and-promote-digital-literacy</ref> The petition raises several concerns about the eKYC requirement: | ||
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The government defended the Act as necessary to combat significant financial losses from online scams and protect vulnerable users, particularly children. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil cited police statistics showing RM2.7 billion in reported losses from online scams between January and November 2025 as evidence of the urgent need for platform accountability.<ref>https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/12/01/rm27bil-lost-to-online-scams-jan-nov-2025</ref> | The government defended the Act as necessary to combat significant financial losses from online scams and protect vulnerable users, particularly children. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil cited police statistics showing RM2.7 billion in reported losses from online scams between January and November 2025 as evidence of the urgent need for platform accountability.<ref>https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/12/01/rm27bil-lost-to-online-scams-jan-nov-2025</ref> | ||
Officials maintained that the Act does not create new criminal offenses relating to lawful speech or political expression, and that existing constitutional protections for freedom of speech remain in place.<ref | Officials maintained that the Act does not create new criminal offenses relating to lawful speech or political expression, and that existing constitutional protections for freedom of speech remain in place.<ref name=":0" /> The government argued that the Act's provisions are consistent with international approaches to online safety and platform regulation in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.<ref>https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/12/30/malaysia-online-safety-act-mirrors-international-standards</ref> | ||
Regarding age verification concerns, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching emphasized that the regulatory sandbox approach would allow testing of different age verification methods to balance child protection with privacy considerations.<ref>https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/01/28/age-verification-system-for-social-media-users-in-the-pipeline-dewan-rakyat-told</ref> She stated that the government remains open to feedback from stakeholders and would consider privacy-preserving alternatives if they prove effective.<ref>https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2245678</ref> | Regarding age verification concerns, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching emphasized that the regulatory sandbox approach would allow testing of different age verification methods to balance child protection with privacy considerations.<ref>https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/01/28/age-verification-system-for-social-media-users-in-the-pipeline-dewan-rakyat-told</ref> She stated that the government remains open to feedback from stakeholders and would consider privacy-preserving alternatives if they prove effective.<ref>https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2245678</ref> | ||