SHAH ALAM, Sept 22 — More than 2.1 million files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and pornography were through Op Pedo and Op Cyber Guardian since 2024, said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Kumar Muthuvelu.
He said the two operations collectively resulted in 170 arrests, 369 seized items and the discovery of 2,123,887 CSAM and pornography files.
He said Op Pedo 1.0 in 2024 resulted in 13 arrests, followed by 31 under Op Pedo 2.0 last year, and 53 under Op Pedo 3.0 conducted from September 14 to 16 this year.
“Every time the operation is carried out, this figure (rises).
“We need more aggressive integrated action, not only from the punitive aspect but also awareness,” he said at Bukit Aman today, as reported by The Star.
The three Op Pedo operations collectively resulted in 97 arrests made, 94 investigation papers opened, 214 items seized, and 1,573,193 CSAM and pornography files uncovered.
The number of investigation papers rose from 13 in 2024 to 29 last year and 52 this year, while seized items increased from 37 under Op Pedo 1.0 to 82 under Op Pedo 2.0 and 95 under Op Pedo 3.0.
On Op Cyber Guardian, Kumar said four arrests were made while 29 items were seized and 52,000 files uncovered during the first operation on March 20 last year.
Op Cyber Guardian II, conducted from April 6 to 8 this year, resulted in 69 arrests, 126 items seized and 498,694 files uncovered.
Separately, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) recorded 12,529 requests involving pornography and CSAM on social media and Internet messaging services between January 1 and September 21 this year.
Of these, 11,665 posts were removed and 1,031 websites blocked.
Kumar also said police and MCMC have dedicated teams monitoring CSAM and pornography, but efforts to curb these activities require the involvement of other agencies, non-governmental organisations, parents, and the community.
“Although we work hard to monitor and take action, success will not be achieved if there is no involvement from other agencies.
“Punitive action is very important, but more important is the element of awareness from a moral perspective, and it needs to be carried out continuously,” he said.
Kumar also called for stronger parental supervision of children’s social media use, especially as children become increasingly familiar with technology and digital platforms.
