PUTRAJAYA, Jan 22 — The government has no plans to impose age restrictions for online access, as several countries have done, said Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Instead, he said Malaysia would adopt a more balanced approach to addressing online safety issues, particularly those involving children, by taking into account the country’s socio-cultural background and legal landscape.
“For example, many have asked whether the government intends to follow Australia’s lead in imposing a 16-year age limit for access to social media.
“We do not intend to follow exactly what other countries are doing, but we will strike a balance by considering the socio-cultural background and the existing legal and regulatory landscape in our country,” he told a press conference after being a panellist at the Asia International Security Summit & Expo 2025 here today.
On November 28, the Australian Parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 banning children under 16 from creating social media accounts.
Fahmi said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission continues strengthening international ties with foreign regulatory bodies to address the growing concern of online crimes.
“The issues of cybersecurity and online safety cannot be separated, especially with criminals’ mass migration to social media platforms.
“Legal measures and actions taken by these (regulatory bodies in other countries) in tackling online crimes can serve as guidance for us,” he said.
When asked about the methodology for balancing internet accessibility and online safety, Fahmi said while there may be some challenges, the ministry will continue to advocate for greater awareness of the issue.
“…when we provide connectivity and bring the internet…we also find that some users tend to get involved in online gambling or fall victim to scams.
“Balancing access and safety is important, but users must also be educated about the basic safety measures they need to practice. This is what we will implement through our online safety awareness campaign,” he said.
Yesterday, Fahmi launched the Online Safety Campaign Roadshow in Kelantan, which is a ministry initiative aimed at raising public awareness about online safety and helping users avoid online scams.
It was reported that the roadshow will be expanded nationwide to spread the word about a safe online environment, the licensing requirement for social media and internet messaging service providers, amendments to the Multimedia and Communications Act 1988, and the new Online Safety Bill.
— Bernama