KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 9 -- Even if a social media company is based overseas, Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) still applies to it, regulator Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) clarified.

Previously, social media and internet messaging firms with at least eight million users in Malaysia (such as TikTok, Telegram, WeChat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) had to apply to be registered as a licensee.

But now that these companies have been automatically registered through the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998's (CMA) Section 46A since January 1 this year, this registration is valid until revoked by Malaysia.

These companies are "deemed" or considered registered, without having to do any of t...