Malaysia has introduced mandatory identity verification requirements for social media advertisers as part of wider efforts to combat illegal online gambling, financial scams and the misuse of public figures in fraudulent promotions.
The new rules, which came into effect on Monday, require individuals and businesses placing sponsored advertisements on major social media platforms in the country to verify their identities before their content can be published. The measure applies to licensed social media platforms with more than eight million users in Malaysia and forms part of the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC) introduced under the country’s Online Safety Act 2025.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the requirement aims to close a major enforcement gap that has allowed anonymous advertisers to promote illegal gambling platforms, fraudulent investment schemes and other suspicious online activities. Authorities have previously struggled to identify the individuals or groups behind such paid advertisements, with many campaigns using fake profiles, misleading content or the images of celebrities and public figures without permission to attract users.
Under the new framework, advertisers will have to provide verifiable information before purchasing sponsored placements, giving regulators and platform operators greater ability to trace those responsible for illegal content. The measure comes amid growing scrutiny of gambling-related advertising across digital platforms in Malaysia, where all forms of online gambling remain illegal except for limited licensed activities.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has significantly increased enforcement against harmful online content, including advertisements linked to illegal betting operators and scam networks. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil previously stated that a large proportion of online content removed by the regulator since January involved either scams or gambling-related activities, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing authorities.
Malaysia has been increasing pressure on social media operators to take a more active role in policing harmful content, with regulators arguing that stronger platform accountability is needed to prevent digital advertising systems from being exploited by criminal groups. The Online Safety Act 2025 forms part of broader government efforts to tighten oversight of online platforms, strengthen user protection measures and improve enforcement capabilities against illegal digital activities.
