June 26, 2026
World
World
PARIS, June 26 — Europe’s ongoing heatwave has intensified, with record-breaking temperatures straining health systems, disrupting daily life and prompting a series of emergency measures across the continent.
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — The Child Protection Code (CPC) introduces a secure, practical and responsible age verification system to ensure only users who meet the minimum age requirement can access social media platforms.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the CPC, together with the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC), was introduced by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on May 22 and took effect on June 1 under the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866).
He said the two codes are intended to strengthen online safety, particularly by shielding children from online risks and harmful content.
Under the CPC, licensed social media service providers must carry out age verification instead of identity verification to ensure users comply with the minimum age requirement. Only individuals aged 16 and above are permitted to register and maintain social media accounts, while those below 16 must wait until they reach the required age.
Fahmi said this in a written reply to Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) in the Dewan Rakyat today, who had sought clarification on the purpose of age verification and the safeguards in place to ensure personal data collected is limited and deleted after use.
He stressed that the verification process must be implemented in a secure and privacy-respecting manner, in accordance with the CPC.
Service providers are also required to comply with personal data protection laws by adhering to principles such as data minimisation and purpose limitation, ensuring only essential information is collected for age verification and disposed of once it is no longer needed.
According to Fahmi, age verification must rely on official documents issued by the Malaysian government, including MyKad, passports, birth certificates or other recognised identification documents.
“To prevent manipulation, age verification must be supported by official government records rather than self-declaration alone,” he said.
The CPC also allows the use of equivalent official documents issued by competent authorities in other countries, ensuring all children receive equal protection online regardless of their documentation status.
Fahmi said the policy is not meant to permanently prevent children from using social media, but to postpone account ownership until they turn 16, when they are considered more mature and better equipped to use online platforms safely and responsibly.
He added that the initiative, known as “Tunggu 16” (Wait Until 16), is aimed at protecting children and families from online threats and harm. — Bernama
