Malaysia will mandate mandatory electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) identity verification on all social media platforms to prevent users under 13 from creating accounts, protecting children while enforcing platform community guidelines.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission will meet with social media companies to discuss implementation steps, with a detailed timeline to be presented to the Cabinet before public announcement.
Beyond child protection, the initiative targets online scams and harmful content including gambling and fake advertisements, with data showing 78 percent of scam-related content removed came from Facebook alone.
The eKYC requirement represents a comprehensive approach to digital safety, ensuring platform accountability and preventing children from exposure to predatory behavior, misinformation, and exploitative content across social networks.
While Malaysia works toward implementation, the move reflects growing global recognition that age verification and identity checks are essential safeguards for protecting minors in digital spaces and combating cybercrime on social platforms.
