Malaysia will soon make electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) identity verification compulsory for social media platforms. This is to prevent children aged below 13 from making accounts on these websites and apps.
According to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, this requirement serves to protect children online. Additionally, it is meant to ensure these social media platforms uphold their respective community guidelines. The minister went on to say that he had made it clear that Malaysia will be making identity verification mandatory when he met with representatives from social media platforms last month.
At the moment, it is still uncertain when eKYC verification will be enforced. Fahmi explained that he will first present the timeline to the Cabinet before making an announcement. He also stated that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will be meeting with social media companies next week. This meeting will concern the initial steps in implementing identity verification on these platforms.
Aside from safeguarding children online, the minister highlighted other issues that can be mitigated through the implementation of eKYC verification. Some examples include online scams and harmful content like gambling and fake advertisements.
“Many platforms have been misused by criminals for scams,” Fahmi stated. He went on to note that out of all the scam-related content that was removed, 78% originated from Facebook.
(Source: Bernama)
