PREDATOR NEEDS NO PASSPORT, ASEAN MUST RESPOND FASTER TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE - DPM ZAHID

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia calls for stronger and faster regional cooperation to protect children from escalating online threats, as the country unveils a series of national and ASEAN-level initiatives aimed at building a safer digital environment for the region’s youngest users.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said ASEAN must act with courage, clarity and unity as online risks now move faster than government can respond, with predators exploiting artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and cross-border anonymity to target children. 

Speaking at the 2025 ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Protection today, he said online harm no longer respects borders, as “a predator does not need a passport, and a dangerous video does not stop at immigration.”

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“One harmful post can reach eleven ASEAN countries in minutes. This is why ASEAN’s collective action is not just important, it is essential,” he said.

Therefore, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia proposed three region-wide mechanisms to accelerate collective response, with the first being the establishment of the ASEAN Child-Protection Information Exchange Network to enable faster alerts, data sharing and coordinated responses to online threats. 

The second mechanism is a shared Digital Forensic Protocol to streamline evidence exchange and prevent offenders from exploiting jurisdictional gaps, and the third, an ASEAN Digital Guardianship Curriculum, as a shared module to build digital resilience, ethics and online safety skills from early childhood. 

“These are initiatives that can be implemented quickly, improved over time, and scaled collectively. And InsyaAllah, they will bring ASEAN closer to becoming one of the safest digital regions for children,” he said. 

Ahmad Zahid also highlighted rising regional concern, noting that 74 per cent of Singaporean internet users aged 15 and above encountered harmful content in 2024, while 33 per cent of Malaysian youth reported cyberbullying experiences.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) also recorded some 9,000 cyberbullying complaints last year, averaging 27 cases a day, he noted.

He said research also indicates that nearly 70 per cent of ASEAN parents are unaware of the full range of digital risks faced by their children, underscoring the need for stronger public awareness and regional coordination. 

During the event, Ahmad Zahid also launched the National Child Policy and the National Child Action Plan (2026–2030), which reinforce Malaysia’s commitment to safeguarding children’s safety,  dignity and mental wellbeing in the digital era. 

The updated policy strengthens protection against grooming, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation and emotional harm, while promoting digital literacy, ethical technology use and resilience among children.

The action plan focuses on stronger legislation, enhanced digital forensics, safer school environments, better family support, closer industry cooperation and wider community mobilisation. 

The Deputy Prime Minister said governments must keep pace with evolving risks, emphasising that although technology evolves rapidly, regional resolve and collective action can advance even faster to keep children safe in the digital environment.

The ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection 2025 brought together 294 participants from ASEAN countries, government agencies, civil society organisations, technology industry players, and international strategic partners, including UNICEF, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the Government of Australia in Kuala Lumpur.

-- BERNAMA