Malaysia to implement age verification for social media, barring under-16s, using MyDigital ID or passport, as part of new Online Safety Act compliance.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government plans to implement an age verification mechanism for social media to bar users aged 16 and below from having accounts.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the move aims to enhance digital security under the new Online Safety Act 2025.
The verification method could involve MyDigital ID, an identity card, or a passport.
“After that, we will not collect information on who the account user is, who the account owner is, or what their name is…the process is only limited to age verification,” she told the Dewan Rakyat.
She was responding to a question on whether the ministry would clean up data on existing accounts after verification is implemented.
Teo said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is currently assessing the feasibility of such mechanisms as part of platform compliance.
The assessment will examine account security, data protection, privacy, technological accuracy, and legal compliance.
A Regulatory Sandbox process is underway, with MCMC collaborating with social media platforms to evaluate technological approaches.
This includes mechanisms for age and entity verification, using AI to detect risky content, and improving complaint handling.
Following the assessment, the obligation to prevent under-16s from accessing social media will fall on the platform providers under relevant regulations.
Teo was also responding to concerns about providing citizens’ personal details to foreign-based platforms during verification.
