Kerajaan teliti cadangan wajib WhatsApp buat pengesahan identiti

The Malaysian government is investigating the possibility of making WhatsApp mandatory to verify the identity and phone number linked to user accounts, as part of efforts to curb fraudulent calls and impersonation as government officials, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said. The issue was raised during recent meetings of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), where concerns were voiced about the misuse of the platform for scam calls.

Fahmi noted that the government is considering additional steps to address fraud following the change in tactics by scammers to evade detection by adapting to technical changes introduced by Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to combat identity spoofing. While blocking calls using false caller IDs has succeeded, scammers have since shifted to other methods.

Therefore, more action is required, Fahmi told reporters after attending the launch of the Smart Protection System for Elite Citizens project in Kuala Lumpur. Responding to questions about the government's follow-up action on the 61 individuals accused of impersonating SKMM officials in a scam, Fahmi said anyone found in breach of the law would be prosecuted in court.