Should social platforms require MyKad for age verification? Experts cite censorship, cybersecurity concerns
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — As Malaysia approaches the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2025, an important deba...
As Malaysia prepares to implement the Online Safety Act 2025, a debate has arisen over whether social media platforms should require government-issued identification, such as MyKad and MyDigital ID, for age verification. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has received feedback from various stakeholders, including industry representatives and civil society groups, who generally favor flexible, risk-based solutions over strict identification requirements.
Concerns have been raised regarding cybersecurity risks, censorship, and privacy issues associated with mandatory government verification. Experts argue that less intrusive methods, such as age estimation and device signals, should be considered first, with stronger verification measures used only when necessary. Critics also highlight the potential for creating centralized databases, increasing the risk of security breaches, and excluding marginalized users without national IDs.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
