Recent crackdowns by the authorities have exposed multiple networks distributing child sexual abuse material and engaging in online child exploitation. The authorities have found that offenders are moving beyond traditional sites to exploit social media platforms, private groups, and even gaming communities.
A police source who requested anonymity said there was a “very frightening” hidden reality behind such cases. “The cases people hear about or read about are only what we see on the surface. The reality behind it is very frightening,” the source told FMT.
FMT takes a closer look at how online predators operate and why children are increasingly vulnerable online.
Digital hunting grounds
The anonymity provided by online platforms allows predators to monitor and manipulate children without the need for a physical presence.
Digital platforms have significantly lowered the barriers for predators to easily access children anonymously, says Mogana Devi Nadesan, programme officer with the Protect and Save the Children organisation.
“Unlike in the past, perpetrators today no longer need prior connections to access children,” she said.
She added that offenders were increasingly exploiting everyday online spaces such as social media, gaming platforms, messaging applications and livestreaming communities, where interactions with strangers are often normalised.
The source noted that frequently used platforms include WhatsApp, WeChat, MiChat, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Bigo, while some perpetrators have begun approaching victims through games such as Roblox and Mobile Legends.
“Predators know these apps are easily accessed by victims,” the source said.
Exploiting curiosity
Social activist Lee Lam Thye described the internet as a “hunting ground” where predators exploit a child’s natural curiosity and emotional vulnerability. Many children may not even realise they are being targeted until serious harm has already occurred, said Lee, chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community.
According to police data, 117 arrests were made in raids on 162 locations between 2024 and 2026, with 101 people being charged in court. Police found 205,000 files containing child sexual abuse material among more than 1.47 million digital files seized in the raids.
“It’s in the nature of predators to hide. The more serious the crime, the more detailed the way they hide themselves,” the source said.
The grooming process
The scale of the threat is reflected in the sheer number of children now active online. Research cited by FMT showed that 94% of Malaysian children aged between 12 and 17 use the internet, with 91% using social media every week.
The same findings estimate that around 100,000 children within that age group may have experienced some form of online sexual exploitation or abuse within a single year.
“The earlier the child gets access to a phone, the higher the potential for them to become a victim,” the source said. “What’s more frightening is that the victims don’t even know they are being exploited.”
Push for safeguards
Malaysia is preparing stricter online safety measures for users under the age of 16. Those children will be restricted from independently managing social media accounts, while introducing stronger age verification and parental supervision mechanisms will be introduced.
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil has said the move is aimed at reducing harmful interactions and to minimise children’s exposure to strangers online.
The police source said enforcement alone would not be enough to deal with online child exploitation. “The police only open an investigation paper once we receive a complaint and report. If people never make a report, we will never know,” the source said.
“The most suitable persons to protect the children are the parents themselves, the source said.