MCMC said the CPC requires licensed social media service providers to implement “child safety by design” measures and enhance age-appropriate protections for child users.
“Pursuant to their statutory obligations under the Act, licensed social media service providers are required to implement safeguards, including age verification for users, with the minimum age set at 16.
“Age verification must be conducted against government-issued records or equivalent records issued by a competent authority in another jurisdiction recognised by the Malaysian government,” Bernama reported MCMC as saying in a statement.
The commission said that from today, licensed social media service providers shall ensure that only users aged 16 and above are permitted to register accounts and access any feature of the service that is appropriate for their age.
For existing users, age verification will be implemented progressively over a period of up to six months by the respective social media service providers.
MCMC said existing users identified as being under the age of 16 will be given one month to download or transfer their data, including photographs and videos, before any restrictions, suspension or other actions are taken by the respective platforms.
The age verification requirement applies to licensed social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
“MCMC expects all licensed social media service providers to fully comply with their statutory obligations under the CPC and the Act, including the timely implementation of effective age verification measures on their platforms.
“Failure to comply with these requirements will be viewed seriously and may result in regulatory and enforcement action in accordance with the law,” it said.
MCMC said the RMC complements these measures by requiring service providers to implement proactive safeguards, including risk assessments, content moderation, user safety controls and enhanced platform accountability.
It said it will continue to work closely with stakeholders, industry players and the wider community to foster a safer and more responsible online environment.