BALI, Oct 20 — ASEAN countries must work together to protect children from growing online threats despite differences in their laws and approaches to internet safety, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
Countries in the region share the challenge of keeping the Internet safe for children and need to strengthen cooperation to address these threats.
“The Internet is good. The Internet can be put to good use. But do children know how to use it well?” he said in his keynote address at Bali Tech Week 2026, initiated by Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Ministry today.
Fahmi added that Malaysia wants to ensure children under 16 cannot open social media accounts, although approaches to online safety for children could differ between Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and other ASEAN countries.
Malaysia began enforcing age-verification requirements for social media account registration on June 1 this year under the Child Protection Code and Risk Mitigation Code introduced under the Online Safety Act 2025.
Under the new regulations, individuals under the age of 16 are no longer allowed to open social media accounts, and those who wish to register must submit official identification documents such as MyKad, passport, or MyDigital ID to verify their age.
He also highlighted the challenges posed by social media algorithms, noting that governments have limited understanding of how they operate and influence the content users encounter.
At the forum, the minister outlined Malaysia’s efforts to improve Internet coverage, speed, and affordability while making online access safer, particularly for children.
Highlighting the dangers children faced online, Fahmi cited a recent case in which Malaysian police apprehended 53 suspected paedophiles and seized more than half a million files suspected of containing child sexual abuse material.
He described online child protection as a challenge faced by countries across the region.
Similarly, governments need to consider how they shape people’s choices while ensuring individuals have the freedom to make more informed decisions.
Bali Tech Week, themed “Archipelago Ascending: Advance Together, Innovate Further”, is being held from yesterday to Friday (October 23) at the Bali Beach Convention Centre in Sanur, bringing together policymakers, technology leaders, innovators, and investors.
Fahmi was invited by his Indonesian counterpart, Meutya Hafid, to deliver the keynote address during his working visit to Indonesia from yesterday to Thursday (October 22).
He will travel to Jakarta tomorrow to continue his official engagements.
