Protecting kids from AI menace
The misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to create sexually explicit images, particularly of children, is on the rise in Malaysia, prompting calls for stronger safeguards and closer parental supervision. CMCF CEO Mediha Mahmood highlighted the growing accessibility of AI tools and unrestricted apps/websites that can be repurposed for malicious purposes, making it difficult to monitor or control AI platform usage.
While existing laws like the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and others may be used to address AI misuse, gathering digital evidence remains a challenge for enforcement agencies. Mediha urged victims and witnesses to report incidents to the police and relevant agencies, emphasizing that digital evidence can be recovered even after online content has been deleted.
She also advocated for digital platforms to adopt "Safety by Design" and "Safety by Default" principles, such as restricting certain image-manipulation features for minors and requiring age verification.
Brief written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
