Kuala lumpur: Online safety regulation must be implemented in phases and backed by strong institutional safeguards to protect users while ensuring cooperation from digital platforms, said Cybersecurity Research Centre (CYRES) director Prof Dr Selvakumar Manickam. He emphasized the need for a collaborative approach, involving civil society, parents, and educators, as lessons from countries with existing online safety laws demonstrate that regulation cannot rely solely on the government.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Selvakumar highlighted the necessity of adopting a layered strategy, starting with high-impact platforms and gradually expanding obligations to others. He proposed that platforms with a smaller local presence should face lighter compliance requirements. The complexity of enforcement is driven by the rapidly evolving nature of online harms such as scams, AI-driven misinformation, and child exploitation.
Selvakumar stressed the importance of balancing regulation with freedom of speech, advocating for transparency and independent oversight. He suggested the establishment of an independent online safety body involving civil society and academic experts. Transparency, as he mentioned, involves the government publishing reports on content removal decisions and their impacts on Malaysians, and establishing an online safety Appeal Tribunal for users and platforms to challenge decisions.
Although the government has formed an Online Safety Committee under the Online Safety Act (ONSA) to provide strategic guidance on online safety issues, Selvakumar noted the need for strengthened independent oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency and fair avenues for appeal. The committee is chaired by Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim.
Regarding compliance by major global platforms, Selvakumar stated that Malaysia is taking a pragmatic approach by engaging these platforms through a regulatory sandbox rather than imposing immediate punishment. He explained that although the Act has been in effect since January 1, 2026, the government is not currently penalizing social media platforms but is working with them to foster cooperation.
He also pointed out the importance of regional coordination in addressing cross-border digital crimes, given the borderless nature of online platforms. Malaysia's ASEAN leadership is linked to stronger data-sharing and collective response mechanisms under the regional cybersecurity framework. Selvakumar expressed confidence in the ability to address regional issues such as scams and fraud through collaboration and joint efforts between countries.
Bernama had previously reported on the regulatory sandbox being conducted to test governance mechanisms for social media platforms, ensuring regulation is implemented in an orderly and effective manner without stifling innovation.