Written by Fatin Ismail
The Online Safety Act 2025 (‘the Act’) comes into force 1 January 2026. It is an Act to enhance and promote online safety in Malaysia by regulating harmful content and providing for duties and obligations of the application service providers, content application service providers and network service providers. The Act was introduced to address harmful content by placing clear responsibilities on licensed service providers where it aims to make the internet safer for everyone in Malaysia by making service providers more responsible. This in turn safeguards the public from harmful online content.
The Act applies to licensed service providers under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, namely Applications Service Providers, Content Applications Service Providers and Network Service Providers. Any social media or messaging platforms with over 8 million users in Malaysia are automatically deemed to be licensees and must comply with the Act.
Licensed service providers are required to take proactive steps to keep users safe from harmful content online, such as, amongst others, implementing measures to reduce the risk of being exposed to harmful content, issuing guidelines, providing online safety tools, providing user support and providing avenues for users to report harmful content.
Harmful content includes:
- Child sexual abuse material (CSAM);
- Financial fraud;
- Obscene content;
- Indecent content;
- Content that may cause harassment, distress, fear or alarm;
- Content that may incite violence or terrorism;
- Content that may induce a child to cause harm to himself;
- Content that promotes ill-will or hostility and may disturb public tranquillity; and
- Content that promotes the use or sale of dangerous drugs.
Child sexual abuse material and financial fraud are classified as priority harmful content and must be removed or blocked with utmost urgency given the serious harm that may arise from such priority harmful content.
Malaysians are expected to benefit from the coming into force of the Act where it helps create a safer online environment for everyone in Malaysia, particularly for children, families and vulnerable groups. Social media platforms have been placed with the responsibility to act swiftly and responsibly against harmful content as well as provide more transparent and clear safety standards.
The Act works to help ensure a safer and more trusted online environment for all Malaysians.
For a full copy of the Act, click here.
For the full FAQ on the Act, click here.
Published on 5 January 2026