PPIM welcomes mandatory age verification for social media users under 16, calling it a key step to curb online scams and cyber harassment.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) has welcomed the government’s move to make identity verification mandatory and restrict social media access for users under the age of 16, describing it as an appropriate measure to reduce risks such as online scams, cyber harassment and exposure to inappropriate content.
PPIM, in a statement today, said that amid a growing number of cybercrime cases and digital manipulation incidents, the government’s measures represent a more structured approach to balancing access to technology with consumer protection, particularly for young users.
“PPIM welcomes the implementation of the age verification requirement for the registration and opening of social media accounts, which came into effect yesterday, as a step forward in strengthening user safety in the digital space,” it said.
Effective yesterday, Malaysia began enforcing age verification requirements for the registration and opening of social media accounts to ensure that individuals under the age of 16 are no longer allowed to create social media accounts.
Under the new regulations, users seeking to register an account are required to provide an official government-issued identification document, such as a MyKad, passport or MyDigital ID, for age verification. The requirement applies to licensed social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
PPIM also described the enforcement of age verification requirements for social media account registration through the implementation of the Children’s Protection Code (CPC) and the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC) under the Online Safety Act 2025 (ONSA) as a positive development towards enhancing the accountability of digital platform providers, including in terms of content moderation and system security.
The association also urged all social media platform providers to take proactive measures to ensure full compliance with the requirements under the CPC and RMC, including expediting the implementation of age verification systems and strengthening user safety mechanisms.
“PPIM also stresses the importance of safeguarding personal data and ensuring data security in the implementation of these measures, and hopes they will be carried out in accordance with high protection standards. PPIM will continue to monitor the matter from time to time to ensure that users’ rights are always protected.
“PPIM further emphasises that consumer protection requires a comprehensive approach, including education, continuous monitoring and the cooperation of all stakeholders. PPIM hopes that the implementation of this policy will be carried out transparently and practically, and that it will genuinely benefit society,” it said.
Article by: The Sun
PPIM BACKS SOCIAL MEDIA AGE VERIFICATION RULE
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/ppim-backs-social-media-age-verification-rule/