Kuala lumpur: Users of social media platforms in Malaysia will be required to upload official government-issued documents for age verification beginning June 1. This follows the implementation of two new codes under the Online Safety Act (ONSA) introduced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching announced that the new regulations, known as the Children's Protection Code (CPC) and the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC), will utilize documents such as identity cards and passports to prevent users under 16 from opening social media accounts. Teo emphasized the need for age verification to go beyond self-declaration, which can easily be manipulated by users falsely claiming they are over 18.
Teo indicated that while MCMC has not mandated specific technology for the age verification process, social media platforms will be given a reasonable period to comply before enforcement actions are implemented. The government is in discussions to determine a suitable timeframe for existing accounts to complete the verification process, with platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram involved in these talks.
Failure to complete the verification may result in account closures or the use of artificial intelligence by social media platforms to ensure users meet the age requirement of 16 and above. This move follows a previous decision by the government prohibiting children under 16 from creating accounts on platforms with over eight million users in Malaysia.
The two codes were developed through engagement sessions with industry players, civil society organizations, and stakeholders since early this year. In addition to outlining age verification requirements, Teo highlighted the alarming number of online scam cases, with 23,367 incidents reported from January to April this year, resulting in losses of RM680.3 million.
Since the launch of the Safe Internet Campaign in January 2025, over 11,000 programs have been conducted nationwide, reaching more than 1.8 million participants, including school students, youths, parents, educators, senior citizens, and local communities.