The government spokesman said social media platforms often see themselves as operating above governments and resist regulatory oversight.

“The social media platforms believe that they are supranational entities, bigger and larger than nations, and that our laws do not apply to them,” he said at the 2026 Women’s Rights Conference.

Citing a Reuters report which stated that Meta generated about RM600 million in advertising revenue from Malaysia alone, Fahmi questioned whether such companies would respond to government pressure.

“Do you think they are going to listen to a minister?” he asked.

Meta, a multinational tech company headquartered in the US, operates major social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads.

On April 15, it was reported that Meta was in discussions with Putrajaya over plans to restrict social media access for users under 16.

The government has indicated that the policy could be enforced as early as mid-2026, with platforms expected to implement safeguards to limit minors’ access.

Meta said it was conducting “constructive conversations” with authorities and sharing insights from other markets, while maintaining that it would ultimately respect whatever regulatory framework Malaysia adopts.

Malaysia’s proposed under-16 restriction is part of a wider global effort to curb children’s access to social media due to concerns over cyberbullying, exploitation, and mental health risks, with governments increasingly placing responsibility on platforms to enforce safeguards.

“We need these laws, but more than that, we need the platforms, and the people who own them, to comply,” said Fahmi.

He said tackling online harm required a coordinated approach involving regulators, enforcement agencies, and the judicial system.

Fahmi has previously criticised Meta and X for not doing enough to tackle cyberbullying, scams, and harmful online content.