KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian authorities have expressed strong support for stricter social media regulations, citing their potential to curb crime and create a safer environment for children.
The call comes after Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil emphasised that his ministry currently relies on social media platforms to enforce age restrictions while prioritising policy stability and freedom of expression.
Globally, countries like Australia have taken a more assertive stance.
On November 28, Australia passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which bans children under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
The legislation was introduced in response to rising suicide rates among minors, with 128 recorded cases over five years and an annual increase of 1.9%, according to a report by the Queensland Family and Child Commission.
Speaking to Scoop, South Klang district police chief Cha Hoong Fong highlighted the benefits of stronger regulations for law enforcement.
“Social media regulations in Malaysia are essential in tackling the growing threat of crimes involving children, such as child pornography, exploitation, and cyberbullying.
“As police officers, we face immense challenges in tracking perpetrators exploiting the unregulated online space. Stronger regulations would enable us to narrow down data more effectively, identify suspects, and make quicker arrests,” Cha said.
A recent joint operation, Op Pedo, uncovered over 40,000 files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and adult pornography.
Conducted by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the operation led to the arrest of suspects aged 20 to 74 across six states — Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Perak, Johor, and Terengganu.
During the raids, authorities seized electronic devices, including seven computers, a laptop, 11 mobile phones, and 16 routers and modems.
Cha stressed the importance of swift action.
“Stronger regulations would help us narrow down data, identify suspects more effectively, and make faster arrests.
“These measures are vital for holding offenders accountable and safeguarding vulnerable children from online predators.”
For the record, Cha has successfully investigated and conducted operations on several cases involving missing underage children, murders, scams, extortion, and gambling.
It was reported that his team rescued a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped by a group of teenagers from an apartment in Section 7, Shah Alam, on November 18.
Meanwhile, former Malaysian Bar president Ragunath Kesavan echoed the need for regulations but urged a balanced approach.
“Regulations are necessary, but we should focus on raising awareness and establishing mechanisms for victims to report issues.
“Banning social media for minors might not be the best solution. Instead, schools should educate children on responsible social media use to reduce such cases over time,” said Ragunath.
Australia’s groundbreaking legislation has set a benchmark worldwide.
The law, which imposes penalties of up to A$49.5 million (RM143.2 million) on tech companies like Meta and TikTok for failing to prevent minors from logging in, will take effect in January 2025.
A trial to enforce the law will begin earlier that month, with the ban on minors set to be fully implemented a year later.
With several countries pledging to regulate children’s social media use, Australia’s policy remains the most stringent, offering a model for others. – December 29, 2024