The Online Safety Act shifts responsibility to platforms to prevent child sexual abuse material, requiring proactive content removal and safety measures.
KUALA LUMPUR: The new Online Safety Act 2025 shifts regulatory responsibility for combating Child Sexual Abuse Material from victims to digital platform providers.
Universiti Putra Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Nellie Ismail said the act is a crucial tool for curbing the spread of exploitative content online.
“While parents remain the first line of defence, structured support like ONSA is essential,” she told Bernama.
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She noted that children are particularly vulnerable due to their cognitive and emotional immaturity.
“Placing the burden solely on children or parents is unrealistic and risky,” Nellie added.
She explained that secure platform designs and early detection systems are now critical requirements for safeguarding children.
Truly safe platforms must incorporate early prevention strategies and ethical algorithm monitoring, she said.
These measures are vital to reduce the re-exposure of children to traumatic content.
Repeated exposure to content highlighting children’s bodies can normalise early sexualisation, Nellie stated.
The act establishes clear obligations for licensed internet and social media service providers.
They are now required to manage and remove content related to CSAM, pornography, incest, and self-harm.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission data shows over 82,000 pieces of obscene content were removed from 2022 to July 2025.
MCMC deputy managing director Eneng Faridah Iskandar stressed the crucial role platform providers play.
“Platforms can no longer rely solely on user reports; they must take a proactive stance,” she said.
She highlighted the need for platforms to develop comprehensive online safety plans.
The implementation has been met with support from parents hopeful it will break the cycle of CSAM dissemination.
Father Nor Zulkarnain Md Nor Isa expressed concerns about monitoring digital content.
“Harmful content can reach our children before we even have the chance to block it,” he said.
Kindergarten teacher Nurul Adlina Azureen Suhaimi echoed these concerns.
“I hope platforms will analyse content before it is uploaded,” she said. – Bernama
