KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 2 -- Did you know that the major companies providing all the social media and instant messaging services you love to use - such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube - are all automatically registered as licensees in Malaysia and have to follow Malaysian laws, from January 1, 2026?

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which regulates and makes sure that these companies follow local online safety laws, explains that this is all aimed at making it safer for Malaysians online.

The two biggest online harms that MCMC wants to protect Malaysians from are: scams, and child sexual abuse materials (CSAM, formerly known as child pornography).

MCMC deputy managing director Enen...