Malaysia: Adopted Online Safety Bill including content moderation regulation

On 16 December 2024, the Online Safety Bill was adopted by the Senate. The Bill regulates the dissemination of harmful online content, including child sexual abuse material, financial fraud, harassment, incitement to violence or terrorism, and other harmful categories. Content related to child sexual abuse and financial fraud is designated as "priority harmful content" and subject to additional regulations. Application service providers (ASPs) and content access service providers (CASPs) must implement measures to reduce user exposure to harmful material, including robust content moderation, child-specific safeguards, and tools for users to manage their safety, such as communication restrictions, reporting mechanisms, and assistance channels. Platforms must also limit children's access to harmful content by restricting communication with adults, regulating recommendation systems, curbing addictive features, and protecting personal data. Providers are required to submit an Online Safety Plan to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and make it publicly available to ensure compliance, transparency, and accountability.