Kuala lumpur: The government will reassess the social media licensing requirements, specifically the eight-million-user threshold, following concerns that online harm can occur even on platforms with fewer users, announced Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the review comes in the wake of the misuse of the Grok artificial intelligence (AI) function on the X app, which is currently exempt from licensing as it reportedly does not have eight million users in Malaysia. Fahmi highlighted that the case involving the app is complex, as X operates as a social media platform while Grok functions as an AI application.
Fahmi emphasized the necessity of re-evaluating the user threshold, stating, "Since a fairly significant incident like this has occurred, we will re-evaluate the eight-million-user threshold because online harm can still happen even if the user base is below that threshold. so we are taking a closer look at this matter." He noted that the hybrid nature of such platforms requires a thorough examination by the ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to ensure a comprehensive approach to addressing online harm issues.
During the Ministers' Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat, Fahmi responded to a supplementary question from Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) regarding the requirement for independent risk assessments of AI functions and the potential permanence of restrictions on Grok. He mentioned that the Online Safety Committee under the Online Safety Act (ONSA) 2025 has established several guidelines for MCMC concerning the annual online safety reports that platforms must submit.
Further commenting on the matter, Fahmi revealed that in a recent meeting with representatives from X, the app confirmed its commitment to preventing the spread of harmful online content through both the X platform and the Grok application. The representatives have been asked to formally confirm the measures implemented to MCMC, enabling the regulator to assess their effectiveness and take any necessary regulatory action.
Fahmi shared that MCMC has recorded 17 complaints or reports related to the Grok application, including six official complaints to MCMC, two police reports, eight complaints via social media tagging, and one first information report (FIR) filed with the agency.
For long-term safety measures, the government is focusing on strengthening AI governance and the responsibilities of online service providers to ensure that generated content complies with Malaysian laws, such as the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and ONSA 2025. This approach is supported through stricter content regulation, continuous monitoring, and increased public awareness to protect Malaysians, particularly children, families, and vulnerable groups, from harmful online content.
Fahmi concluded, "Most importantly, X has shown willingness to come to Malaysia, and they have also committed to deeper cooperation and involvement in several initiatives, including the Safe Internet Campaign."