Malaysia: The Online Safety Act 2025

What service providers need to know

Intention of the OSA 2025

The OSA 2025 is meant to enhance and promote online safety in Malaysia by regulating harmful content and implementing duties and obligations for providers.
It is supposed to make the internet safer for everyone by placing more responsibility on providers.

Who the OSA 2025 applies to

The OSA applies to Applications Service Providers, Content Applications Service Providers and Network Service Providers.
Furthermore, any social media or messaging platforms with over 8 million users in Malaysia requires licenses and must comply with the OSA 2025.

What harmful content includes

• Child sexual abuse material (priority harmful content);
• Financial fraud (priority harmful content);
• 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;
• Content that promotes the use or sale of dangerous drugs.

What actions providers must take

Take proactive steps to keep users safe from harmful content.

This includes measures to reduce the risk of being exposed to harmful content, issuing guidelines, providing online safety tools, user support and avenues for users to report harmful content.

Priority harmful content must be removed or blocked with utmost urgency.