Malaysia Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA): Difference between revisions
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|Description=Malaysian law requiring platforms with 8M+ users to remove harmful content. Critics cite censorship concerns; government says it targets platforms, no | |Description=Malaysian law requiring platforms with 8M+ users to remove harmful content. Critics cite censorship concerns; government says it targets platforms, no | ||
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The '''Online Safety Act 2025''' ('''Act 866''') is Malaysian legislation that came into force on January 1, 2026, requiring social media and messaging platforms with over 8 million Malaysian users to remove harmful content and implement safety measures.<ref>{{Cite web |last= | The '''Online Safety Act 2025''' ('''Act 866''') is Malaysian legislation that came into force on January 1, 2026, requiring social media and messaging platforms with over 8 million Malaysian users to remove harmful content and implement safety measures.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2026-01-02 |title=Online Safety Act comes into force to protect users |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/01/02/online-safety-act-comes-into-force-to-protect-users |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/baPUk |archive-date=2026-02-11 |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=The Star}}</ref> The Act targets nine categories of harmful content including child sexual abuse material and financial fraud, with platforms facing fines up to RM10 million for non-compliance. <ref name=":0" /> Civil society groups have raised concerns about potential censorship and surveillance, while the government maintains the Act targets platform accountability rather than individual users.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |title=Malaysia: Concerns with the Online Safety Bill 2024 |url=https://www.article19.org/resources/malaysia-online-safety-bill/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/lun8S |archive-date=2026-02-11 |access-date=2026-02-11 |website=Article 19}}</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Between January and November 2025, Malaysian police recorded RM2.7 billion in reported losses from online scams.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=[404!] |title= |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/12/01/rm27bil-lost-to-online-scams-jan-nov |url-status=dead}}</ref> A UNICEF study identified more than 100,000 children in Malaysia at risk of online sexual exploitation, with police operations uncovering hundreds of thousands of files containing child sexual abuse material.<ref>{{Cite web |last=[404!] |title= |url=https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/press-releases/unicef-malaysia-online-child-safety-report |url-status=dead}}</ref> | Between January and November 2025, Malaysian police recorded RM2.7 billion in reported losses from online scams.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=[404!] |title= |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/12/01/rm27bil-lost-to-online-scams-jan-nov |url-status=dead}}</ref> A UNICEF study identified more than 100,000 children in Malaysia at risk of online sexual exploitation, with police operations uncovering hundreds of thousands of files containing child sexual abuse material.<ref>{{Cite web |last=[404!] |title= |url=https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/press-releases/unicef-malaysia-online-child-safety-report |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
Between January 2024 and November 2025, major platforms removed 92% of 697,061 harmful posts flagged by Malaysian authorities, but 58,104 posts remained accessible online.<ref>{{Cite web |last=[404!] |title= |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/30/online-safety-act-to-take-effect-jan-1-service-providers-must-comply/138924 |url-status=dead}}</ref> These ongoing challenges prompted the Malaysian government to introduce the Online Safety Act 2025 to strengthen platform accountability for harmful content and protect Malaysian internet users, particularly children.<ref name=":1" /> | Between January 2024 and November 2025, major platforms removed 92% of 697,061 harmful posts flagged by Malaysian authorities, but 58,104 posts remained accessible online.<ref>{{Cite web |last=[404!] |title= |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/12/30/online-safety-act-to-take-effect-jan-1-service-providers-must-comply/138924 |url-status=dead}}</ref> These ongoing challenges prompted the Malaysian government to introduce the Online Safety Act 2025 to strengthen platform accountability for harmful content and protect Malaysian internet users, particularly children.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=[525]\[404] |first= |title= |url=https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/media/press-releases/online-safety-act-2025 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
==Key provision== | ==Key provision== | ||