Why is the Communications Ministry reviewing the social media user threshold?

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Review of Social Media User Threshold Underway Due to AI Content Concerns

The Ministry of Communications is reviewing the feasibility of adjusting the user threshold for social media platforms to be registered as Application Service Provider Class (ASP(c)) licence holders. This review is prompted by recent issues involving the AI tool "Grok," which generated harmful and obscene content, leading to a temporary restriction on its access in Malaysia. The current threshold, implemented on January 1, deems providers with eight million or more Malaysian users as registered ASP(c) licence holders under Section 46A of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Concerns Over AI Tool "Grok" Misuse

The catalyst for re-evaluating the user threshold stems from the problematic content generated by the AI tool "Grok." This tool produced obscene material involving women and children, which violates Malaysian law. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil indicated that the Ministry, in conjunction with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), believes there is justification to review the established user count criteria due to such incidents.
Existing Registration Framework for Large Platforms

The existing provision, effective January 1, mandates that Internet messaging and social media service providers with a substantial user base in Malaysia are considered registered ASP(c) licence holders. This measure, announced by the MCMC on December 15, aims to ensure that large-scale service providers operate within Malaysia’s legal and regulatory framework in an orderly and effective manner. The MCMC is currently studying potential adjustments to this user threshold to determine an appropriate limit.
Impact on Platforms Like X

The current eight-million-user threshold means that platforms like TikTok and Facebook, which have a significant presence in Malaysia, would fall under this registration requirement. However, X (formerly known as Twitter) has reported that its user base in Malaysia has not yet reached this specified figure. The Ministry is considering whether the current threshold adequately captures all significant platforms that could potentially be involved in similar content-related issues.
Previous Action Against AI Grok

In response to the misuse of AI Grok for generating explicit content, the MCMC took direct action. On January 11, the commission ordered a temporary restriction on access to AI Grok for users within Malaysia. This decision was made following repeated instances where the tool was exploited to produce pornographic and explicit material, highlighting the immediate regulatory challenges posed by advanced AI technologies.

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Why is the Communications Ministry reviewing the social media user threshold?

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