PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will follow Australia and Canada’s adoption of a digital regulation policy to address online harm and media imbalance.

MCMC said it held a meeting to address these challenges yesterday with the communications and digital ministry and online platforms Meta and Google.

“The ministry and MCMC are engaging in discussions with major online platforms, including Meta and Google, to establish a licensing and regulatory framework,” it said in a statement today.

The challenges include child sexual abuse material; online gambling; content on race, religion and royalty; scams and phishing; online trade of illegal drugs and substances; impersonation; and fake news.

MCMC said it has scheduled a meeting separately with TikTok.

It also said it is working with the ministry to address the imbalance in traditional advertising expenditure income between digital platforms and local media to create a level playing field.

“This includes plans to encourage fair competition, strengthen intellectual property rights, and protect consumers from online harm and privacy,” it said.

In December 2021, Australia enforced a mandatory news media bargaining code, which led to Google and Meta making voluntary compensation agreements with news outlets.

On April 27 this year, the Canadian parliament passed an online streaming Act in an effort to govern digital outlets similar to how television and radio are already regulated.