Social Media Platforms Risk Up To RM10 Million Penalty Over Age Verification - Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- Social media platforms that fail to comply with user age-verification requirements under the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866) could face penalties of up to RM10 million, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has the authority to issue notices of non-compliance to application service providers that fail to fulfil obligations under Part III of Act 866.

Licensed service providers receiving such notices are required either to pay the prescribed penalty or submit representations to MCMC for review.

“For non-compliance with Part III of Act 866, licensed service providers may be subjected to financial penalties of up to RM10 million as provided under Section 39 of the Act,” he said during Question Time.

Fahmi said this in reply to Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) on measures to ensure social media companies comply with age-verification requirements and the action that could be taken against non-compliant platforms.

The minister also said that Section 30 of the Act empowers MCMC to issue written directives to licensed service providers regarding compliance with any provision of the legislation.

“Failure to comply with such directives constitutes an offence and, upon conviction, may result in a fine of up to RM1 million, as well as an additional fine of up to RM100,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction,” he said.

Fahmi said the government has been engaging social media companies since January through a regulatory sandbox initiative to discuss the implementation of age-verification mechanisms.

More than 30 engagement sessions have been conducted, either collectively or individually, with the platforms involved.

“Each platform faces its own challenges and business objectives, but the government is proceeding with age-verification requirements in line with practices already adopted in more than 25 countries worldwide,” he added.

-- BERNAMA