Malaysia: Adopted Online Safety Bill including content moderation authority governance

On 16 December 2024, the Online Safety Bill was adopted by the Senate. The Bill establishes an Online Safety Committee to oversee and regulate online content alongside an Appeals Tribunal to address disputes and appeals arising from the Committee's decisions. It outlines procedures for reporting harmful content and grants enforcement powers to address violations. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is designated to implement and enforce the Bill’s provisions, with the Minister of Communications authorised to direct enforcement actions. Authorities will be empowered to investigate non-compliance and impose fines or other penalties.