KUCHING: The Online Safety Act 2025, which came into effect on Jan 1, 2026, places formal responsibility on platform operators to ensure children’s online safety, while parents continue to play an important supervisory role.
Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, said the law is designed to ensure that operators monitor and manage accounts belonging to children, particularly those aged 16 and below.
“The law is more about giving responsibility to the operators. They must show accountability by monitoring whether an account belongs to a child or not,” she said at a press conference at the Dayak Chamber today (Jan 3).
Under the Act, operators are required to take steps to ensure that children under 16 are not exposed to inappropriate content. This includes the ability to delete accounts for children aged 12 and below if necessary.
“How they implement it technically is not my expertise, but the goal is to make sure operators are responsible for children’s engagement on social media,” Nancy added.
She emphasised that while operators bear the formal legal responsibility, parents also play a critical role in safeguarding their children online.
The government has met with operators to clarify their responsibilities and ensure proper implementation of the law.
“This Act demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting children online. Operators are expected to monitor accounts and take action as needed, and parents must remain vigilant in guiding their children’s online activities,” she said.
The Online Safety Act comes as authorities increasingly recognise the risks children face online and the need for stricter regulation to prevent exposure to harmful content.
