Over 1,400 harmful child-related posts removed in first half of this year
The removal, part of ongoing efforts to safeguard children online, was facilitated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in collaboration with digital platform providers and through public complaints.
Daily monitoring and operations, such as Op Pedo conducted in December last year, also led to the arrest of 13 individuals and the seizure of over 40,000 pieces of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across several states.
In a joint statement today, MCMC and the police said that the act of distributing, storing, or commercialising child sexual exploitation content is an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Upon conviction, offenders may face a fine of up to RM1 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
Additionally, producing, distributing, sharing, selling, purchasing, accessing, or possessing CSAM is a criminal offence under Sections 5 to 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
"MCMC and the police, through the Sexual, Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (D11) and the Criminal Investigation Department, are committed to combating online child sexual exploitation through continuous enforcement and public awareness initiatives.
"We urge all parties including parents, educators, community leaders, platform owners, and internet users to work together in addressing child sexual exploitation.
"Every public report can aid investigations and help prevent further abuse," they said.
Suspicious online activities should be reported immediately to the MCMC via email at aduanskmm@mcmc.gov.my, through the portal at https://aduan.mcmc.gov.my (https://aduan.mcmc.gov.my/), (https://aduan.mcmc.gov.my/) or at the nearest police station.
As part of a broader approach, MCMC is also intensifying awareness through the Safe Internet Campaign, which targets students, parents, and the wider community.
One of the campaign's key objectives is to highlight the prohibition of social media account ownership by children aged 13 and below.
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