Safety of minors a priority

PETALING JAYA: Cyber security experts and other stakeholders have backed the government’s call for authorities to take immediate action to combat cybercrimes such as cyberbullying, scams and online crime against minors on social media platforms.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) vice-president and legal adviser Datuk Indrani Thuraisingham said stronger legislation, updated laws and enforcement were needed to address cyberbullying, online scams and various other types of cybercrimes.

“We also need harsher penalties for those who are found guilty of these crimes especially when they involve minors,” she said, when contacted yesterday.

ALSO READ : 14 Malaysian entities affected by IT outage

Earlier, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that authorities will collaborate to take immediate action against cybercrimes on social media.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Indrani also suggested that a dedicated cybercrime unit, across government bodies, should be established within law enforcement agencies to effectively investigate and prosecute such crimes.

“We also need a user-friendly reporting system, by social media platforms to create easy to use reporting systems for scams, cyberbullying as well as other harmful activities,” she added.

She also urged relevant authorities to establish stricter content moderation policies to quickly identify and remove harmful content.

“There should also be full transparency in reporting how platforms handle reports of cyberbullying and scams, including regular public reports on all the actions taken,” she noted.

A comprehensive age verification process to protect minors from accessing inappropriate content being targeted by predators or irresponsible parties should also be established, she said.

“I also urge the government and academic institutions to conduct comprehensive studies on the prevalence and impact of cyberbullying and scams in the country, especially on minors.

“Proper data sharing between relevant stakeholders will also help better understand and address these issues.

“By pushing for these measures, we can help create a safer online environment for everyone, particularly vulnerable groups like minors,” said Indrani.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said that although a lot of actions have been taken by the government, scam cases are still rising.

“Many people fall prey because of greed, and although social media scams have been highlighted often, they never learn.

“Scammers use all kinds of tricks and make things very attractive, but if you are not greedy you won’t fall for it,” he said.

Awareness of online scams is a priority, Chong added, and can be more of a deterrent compared to punishment.

The Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) president Siraj Jalil said that such a move by the government was both necessary and timely.

“The increasing incidence of cybercrimes, particularly on social media platforms, demands a concerted and coordinated effort from enforcement authorities.

“Cyberbullying poses a significant threat to the mental health and well-being of individuals, particularly our youth.

“The emotional and psychological damage inflicted by cyberbullying can be profound, leading to anxiety, depression, and in extreme cases, even suicide.

“Prompt and decisive action is essential to protect vulnerable individuals from such harmful behaviour,” he said.

Siraj added online scams, including phishing, fraud, and identity theft, are becoming increasingly common and can have devastating financial and personal consequences.

“By prioritising the fight against these scams, the government can help safeguard the financial well-being of our citizens and restore trust in online transactions,” he argued.

Social media expert Prof Dr Zarina Shukur, from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), said stricter measures should be implemented by the government following recent cases.

“Social media platform owners, and social media account holders need to be clear about their responsibilities and the related regulations,” she said.

Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) member Derek Fernandez said that it is a good move for all joint agencies, MCMC, the police and banks to effectively combat online threat and cybercrime.

He pointed out four components for the authorities to tackle in order to mitigate these online menace.

These are anonymity, access to network facilities, access to accounts or payment systems and information of the target victim.

“We find that a high proportion of online harms use social media platforms.

“This is mainly because of the ease to conceal identity, huge reach and lack of proper regulation of these platforms in Malaysia,” he said.