Recently, Malaysian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have sent an open letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to protest against the proposed ban on social media for individuals under 16 years of age and the mandatory use of e-KYC for all users in Malaysia. That said, what should you know about it?
The CSO insists this measure is ineffective
For your information, more than 80 CSOs and individuals have urged the government to withdraw the proposed ban on social media for under-16s, insisting that the measure is ineffective, disproportionate, and threatens fundamental rights, including privacy and freedom of expression.
Additionally, the ban is considered problematic because it does not address the real causes of digital harm with risks to children stemming from platform design, exploitative business models, and data collection practices, rather than the mere presence of children on the platform.
In addition, it is not in line with the rights of the child (UNCRC), where they have the right to access information, expression, privacy, and digital participation. A blanket ban could increase the digital divide. More worryingly, a ban would only cause children to move to unregulated platforms or the far more dangerous dark web.
Therefore, the CSO recommends withdrawing the proposed ban and conducting a public consultation. Comprehensive platform controls, in line with the constitution and international human rights. Long-term solutions are also proposed through continued engagement with communities and experts, digital literacy and critical thinking education, and access to mental health support.
Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like this.
COMMENTS