KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 5): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has held talks with tech behemoths Meta and Google to address challenges posed by online media.

In a statement on Tuesday, the regulator said the discussion was co-chaired by Ministry of Communications and Digital secretary general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and MCMC chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din.

It said TikTok has also been scheduled for a meeting to discuss the same focal point.

MCMC said the challenges include the dissemination of online harm pertinent to child sexual abuse material, online gambling, content inciting race, royalty and religious (3R) discontent, scams and phishing, the sale and promotion of illegal drugs and prohibited substances, impersonation, the spread of disinformation and fake news.

It said Malaysia also considers adopting regulatory frameworks similar to those implemented in Australia and Canada. The Communications and Digital Ministry and MCMC are engaging in discussions with major online platforms, including Meta and Google, to establish a licensing and regulatory framework.

MCMC said Australia’s passing of the world’s first Mandatory News Media Bargaining Code has led Google and Meta to make voluntary compensation agreements with news outlets having served as an example of the importance of fair compensation.

Similarly, it said Canada's Bill C-11 aims to regulate streaming platforms and requires them to support Canadian content.