KUALA LUMPUR: A senator proposed that social media service providers be fined RM100mil if they fail to comply with the minimum age policy of 16 years for opening new accounts.
Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari said it was time for the government to take firm action, in line with Australia's move to impose fines of up to AU$50mil (RM137mil) on any company that does not comply with the relevant regulations.
According to him, the proposal takes into account the billions of ringgit in profits made by social media companies, as well as the urgent need to protect children from exposure to harmful content in cyberspace.
"If the fine is too low, they (platform operators) won't be deterred. They can pay the fine and continue to commit the same offence," he said while debating the Supply Bill (Budget 2026) in the Dewan Negara on Monday (Dec 8).
He said the lack of control over users' age makes children easily exposed to various risks, including online fraud, cyberbullying, extreme content, and manipulation through artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
"Social media and AI are like knives. They can be used for education, business and communication, but without control, they can be damaging and harmful to children's minds," he said.
Last week, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil was reported to have said the government aims to have all social media platforms implement digital user identity verification (eKYC) by the end of the second quarter of 2026 to enforce a minimum age limit of 16 for account creation.
He said the move was aimed at protecting children from online exploitation, with joint discussions with agencies and social media platforms having begun.
Meanwhile, Senator Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman also urged the government to take more decisive action to control social media content, including TikTok and Instagram, which are reportedly becoming increasingly difficult to manage due to commercial algorithms that promote inappropriate content.
"If there are no laws to take action against this advertising, we are concerned that technology will erode our children's identity and discipline, leading them to worse things, starting from just 'wanting to try'. I urge the Minister of Communications to give serious attention to this issue," he said.
The Dewan Negara session will resume on Tuesday (Dec 9). – Bernama
