Ahmad Faisal Fiah of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) said Malaysia is well-positioned to achieve consensus over the need to regulate social media, including through the licensing of its various platforms.

He said Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean could be the catalyst for creating safer digital spaces, adding that such efforts would showcase Asean’s progressive thinking and set an example for others to follow.

“We should use this opportunity to prove to the world that Asean is united when it comes to best practices in social media,” he told FMT.

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil recently announced amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) aimed at tackling various online crimes, including paedophilia, scams and gambling.

He said that with effect from Feb 11, the CMA prescribes stricter penalties for a range of online offences.

Meanwhile, regulations requiring social media providers with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia to be licensed came into force on Jan 1 this year.

The initiatives are designed to enhance online safety, safeguard users, and improve regulatory oversight of social media and internet messaging platforms.

Security and political analyst Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin called for cross-border cooperation among Asean member states to address social media security issues.

Nirwandy, who is attached to Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) centre for media and information warfare studies, said such collaborations are necessary to curb radicalism and international scams.

“For example, a cyber security audit could be set up to ensure Asean member states adhere to a minimum standard, especially in relation to data security, similar to what is prescribed under the CMA.

“These codes of conduct can then be expanded and improved on,” she said.