SHAH ALAM – There is an urgent need to amend existing laws to make them more relevant to current realities, including regulating access by underage children to online platforms such as Facebook and Instagram based on appropriate age limits.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Family, Women and Children’s Law expert Professor Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal said that without serious supervision, children could be exposed to online dangers such as sharing inappropriate images or falling victim to online threats and blackmail.
However, she stressed that monitoring children's online activities should not rest solely on the government’s shoulders, but must also be the responsibility of parents.
"Today, almost every household has internet access. Just connect to the network and you’re online. It’s difficult to control internet use based on age.
"In my view, it’s also not easy to punish parents for neglecting their duty to supervise. That’s why educating parents is critical and at the same time, children must also be equipped with the right information.
"Only then can we move towards legislation that effectively regulates online activity among minors and reduces the risk of exploitation,” she told Sinar Harian.
Noor Aziah added that this differs from physical abuse, which is already addressed under the Child Act 2001.
"This isn’t about neglect in the form of withholding food or exposing children to physical danger, but about protecting their safety in the digital world.
"That’s why prevention is always better than a cure. Often, individuals who exploit children online will also threaten their parents, which can have a deep emotional impact and cause trauma to the child,” she said.
The call for reform comes as the government reviews existing legal provisions to introduce clearer and stricter responsibilities for parents and guardians to help prevent child abuse and sexual assault.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, recently announced that the government plans to propose amendments requiring parents to actively monitor their children’s online behaviour and participate in digital safety education programmes.
"This approach reflects the principle of shared responsibility in safeguarding future generations from the rising threat of sexual crimes in the digital age,” Azalina said during her keynote address at the Tashkent Law Spring International Legal Forum 2025 in Uzbekistan on June 2.
She also urged the international legal community to embrace a collective moral responsibility in addressing online crimes against children and highlighted Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its legislative framework for online child protection.