Kuala lumpur: Malaysia will soon require all social media platforms to implement 'electronic Know Your Customer' (eKYC) identity verification to ensure that users under 13 do not own accounts. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced the move, emphasizing its importance for protecting children online and ensuring the enforcement of community guidelines set by the platforms.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi highlighted that during his meeting with representatives from social media platforms last month, he stressed the necessity of mandatory identity verification to prevent children below 13 from having accounts. He plans to present the exact timeline to the Cabinet before making an official announcement. Fahmi discussed these developments while officiating the 'NADI (National Information Dissemination Centre) on Wheels' programme at the Sindumin state constituency.
Present at the event were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) deputy managing director (Regulation and Corporate) Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin, and Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj. Fahmi mentioned that MCMC will convene a meeting with social media companies next week to discuss immediate steps towards implementing the new requirement.
In addition to child protection, Fahmi noted that eKYC is crucial for curbing online scams and harmful content such as gambling and fake advertisements. He cited that 78 per cent of scam-related content removed originated from Facebook. Meanwhile, the NADI on Wheels initiative, jointly implemented by the ministry and MCMC, aims to expand digital access and bring information technology to rural communities. The program currently supports 1,099 NADI centers nationwide, including 131 in Sabah, and features Starlink connectivity and tablets for digital and entrepreneurship training.
Fahmi also announced the upcoming RM2 billion MADANI Submarine Cable Connectivity (SALAM) project, which aims to link Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah. The project, expected to be completed within two to three years, will include a coastal submarine cable network in Sabah to ensure stable communications and reduce reliance on existing submarine cables. Additionally, MCMC will focus on maintaining telecom towers in flood-prone areas, enhancing resilience through site hardening and hybrid power systems.