Latest news with #MCCA
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Digital literacy better than banning kids, say experts
Educate first: (From left) Jilal and Mohd Ridhwan stress that platform restrictions will not be enough to deter children from using social media. JOHOR BARU: Digital literacy among children should be improved instead of banning them from social media, say groups here, following the government's proposal to restrict access for those under 13. Malaysian Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) president Siraj Jalil said it is more important to ensure children know how to protect themselves online, as they are bound to explore social media despite restrictions. 'No matter what restrictions social media platforms or the government impose, children will still explore the digital world to feed their curiosity. 'What is more important now is to make sure that they have digital literacy and know how to protect themselves online. 'In order to do this, the Education Ministry must play a proactive role, ensuring that schools are prepared to educate future generations on cybersecurity,' he said in an interview. He added that while the Education Ministry introduced the Digital Education Policy in 2023, it lacks a fundamental pillar – cybersecurity and safety. 'There is no point in stopping our children from using social media. Yes, the Internet is a dangerous place, especially now with the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), which could easily be misused. 'Even adults are prone to being scammed and are vulnerable to cyberbullies. These risks do not automatically disappear once a person becomes an adult. 'We need to instead make sure everyone, especially minors, have digital literacy,' he said, adding that the MCCA is prepared to assist the government in doing so. On July 30, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the government was studying a proposal to ban children under 13 from social media in light of the mounting evidence that it has a deleterious effect on their mental health and the increasing amount of harmful content online. Australia recently banned all children under 16 from using social media. Other nations such as the United States, France and the United Kingdom are watching Australia as a test case of how similar limits can be imposed in their own countries. In Malaysia, Fahmi said most platforms already do not allow children below 13 to have an account. 'Unfortunately, if you visit schools and ask pupils under 13 whether they have TikTok accounts, many will say yes. That alone is a breach, acknowledged even by TikTok,' he told the Dewan Rakyat. He said the ministry is exploring ways to improve enforcement of the age restriction, noting that protecting children online is a shared responsibility between the government, online platforms and parents. Between Jan 1, 2022, and July 15, 2025, service providers removed 1,443 pieces of harmful or extreme content involving children following requests from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Malaysian Education Concorde Organisation (Me'didik) chairman Mohd Ridhwan Othman said such a ban would not do much to deter children from being on social media. 'Children are smart and will find a way to have their own social media accounts. 'Even now, when social media platforms already include a minimum age, minors are still able to find a way. 'I'm not saying that we should not ban or regulate, but I think the more important thing is for society as a whole to also play its role and monitor the content children are exposed to,' he said.
Axios
4 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Early data shows major homicide drops in 2025 so far
Homicides declined in major U.S. cities — by more than 50% in some communities — during the first six months of the year, according to new data from an organization of law enforcement executives. Why it matters: The stats are the latest signs that violent crime in America is falling from the COVID crime wave, and that drop appears to be accelerating during President Trump's first months in office. The big picture: Violent crime ticked up early in President Biden's term, but reports show it's dropped significantly since then as law enforcement agencies responded to the pandemic surge and adopted more detailed recordkeeping. The recent downward trend in crime also counters Trump's false claims that immigration had sparked rising crime nationwide — a reason he gave for his mass deportation plan. By the numbers: Reports from 68 law enforcement agencies showed a 19% drop in homicides in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). An Axios analysis of the MCCA data found that Denver, Honolulu, Orlando, Portland and Tampa all had a 50% or more decrease in homicides during that period. Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Louisville, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Seattle all had declines in homicides of more than 30%. The intrigue: Aurora, Colorado — a city Trump repeatedly and falsely singled out as being overrun by Venezuelan immigrant gangs during the 2024 election — saw a 16% drop in homicides. Phoenix, another city Republicans claimed was besieged by violent crime because of undocumented immigrants, had an 11% decline in homicides during the first six months of this year. The data from MCCA's self-reported agencies included New York City in this report. Its previous reports didn't have New York City, which saw a 27% drop in homicides. Yes, but: Some communities did see a jump during this period. Boston experienced a 143% surge in homicides during the first six months of 2025. Cincinnati, El Paso, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Mo., and Milwaukee also saw increases, the Axios analysis found. Zoom in: Overall, violent crime appears to be falling in every category. Rape was down 9%, robbery decreased 18% and aggravated assaults fell 10%. What they're saying: "President Trump is delivering on his promise to Make America Safe Again — and the results speak for themselves," White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston told Axios. "The safety of the American people is President Trump's top priority, and he's taking decisive action to protect our communities, including removing dangerous illegal aliens from our streets." The other side: "The only thing the Trump administration deserves credit for is attempting to kneecap Baltimore's progress," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott's office said in a statement to Axios. Baltimore saw a 23% decline in homicides. "Earlier this year, the Trump Department of Justice cancelled more than $800 million in violence prevention grants." The mayor's office credited the city's Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan and investments in new parks, playgrounds, rec centers, schools and libraries. "These historic lows are the result of a comprehensive public safety strategy that treats gun violence as a public health issue." Zoom out: The quarterly reports from MCCA typically have been a good measure of trends that are reflected in the annual FBI crime data released a year later. What we're watching: Trump has said he will tie federal grants to local police departments based on a requirement that they participate in his plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
The Star
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Confronting digital threats
PETALING JAYA: The collection and real-time interception of digital evidence proposed by the Home Ministry are essential tools for probing serious crimes and threats, especially in cyberspace, say legal and cybersecurity experts. Computer science expert Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Tengku Sembok said that as the Home Ministry reviews the national cybercrime framework, the proposed expansion of enforcement powers, and the magnitude and complexity of today's cyber threats underscore the urgent need for modernised legal instruments. 'For Malaysia, aligning legal authority with these provisions would allow investigators to track sophisticated offenders more effectively,' he said when contacted yesterday. He was commenting on reports that Malaysia is set to sign the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime in October, according to Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The Home Minister said on July 23 that the country is also in the process of joining the Budapest Convention, i.e. the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime. However, Tengku Mohd said that such powers must be carefully circumscribed as real-time collection should only be permitted with judicial oversight and only for defined serious offences. 'Procedural safeguards such as time-limited authorisations, audit logging and data minimisation must be included in the framework,' he said. Oversight mechanisms, he added, should include independent reviews, periodic public reporting and clearly defined accountability protocols. 'These controls are vital to ensure that public trust and civil liberties are maintained,' he said. Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) president Siraj Jalil said the upcoming legislation should be more inclusive and have stronger enforcement powers to face various ever-evolving cyber threats. 'We hope the police will lead the enforcement efforts through a dedicated cybercrime department, given that cybercrime is among the most reported threats, according to various authorities. 'The most common threats the public is currently facing are online scams, fraud and phishing, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated phishing links,' he said. He added that cybercrime isn't limited to financial scams, but is also evolving with the misuse of AI and sexual crimes against children. 'People may not even realise that they are victims of such a scam. 'For instance, if their photos are exploited for AI-generated content, that is also cybercrime. 'And there are many cases of those using pictures of VIPs to dupe victims,' he said, adding that the government should consider all of these situations. Malaysian Bar Legal Tech, AI and Sandbox committee co-chairperson Sathish Mavath Ramachandran said that of late, the Bar Council is frequently consulted by federal regulators and government ministries and agencies regarding law reform and legal issues. 'That includes amendments to existing laws and regulations, as well as formulation of new laws and regulations. 'This is a truly transformational development. 'Our suggestions and proposals are not always accepted, but that is to be expected. 'The regulators and our Federal Government must ultimately decide based on their processes, procedures, protocols and policies. 'The consultation over the past two and a half years has been meaningful, especially in the areas of cyber, technology, digital and personal data laws, including AI and cybercrimes,' he said. One of the key longstanding challenges in tackling cybercrime is its cross-border nature, said data protection practitioner Deepak Pillai. 'Cybercrime incidents often involve perpetrators or digital infrastructure that are located across multiple jurisdictions. 'This significantly limits the ability of local enforcement agencies to effectively investigate, gather evidence, recover affected assets or take further enforcement action. 'As such, it is a welcome development that the government is planning to join international frameworks such as the Budapest Convention and the UN Convention on Cybercrime,' he said.
The Star
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Balancing screen time and safety: The challenge for today's parents
At what age did you get your first smartphone or sign up for social media? For many adults, it likely happened in their late teens or early twenties, but for kids today, their dive into the digital world often comes much earlier, at times even before they start schooling. Countless concerns have been raised on whether children are being exposed to too much, too soon, and the potentially detrimental long-term effects that may come alongside it. Countries like Australia and France have taken a hardline stance on the matter, with France passing a parental consent law for users under 15, and Australia's under-16 ban is set to be enforced in December. French President Emmanuel Macron has even said that the country would impose a further blanket ban on social media use for those under 15, should progress at the EU level to limit teenage screen time lag behind. Meanwhile, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said back in January this year that the country does not currently have any plans to impose a minimum age requirement when it comes to social media access. He later said in March that any move to impose such a restriction would require a thorough analysis of how it could affect access to information and communication among those impacted, as well as the potential psychological and developmental implications. He also noted that most platforms have set 13 years old as a minimum age requirement, and said that the Malaysian government would monitor their enforcement. According to Siraj, platforms struggle with effectively enforcing age restrictions. — SIRAJ JALIL According to Siraj Jalil, president of the Malaysia Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA), such monitoring is a step forward, but is still not an airtight solution to the issue. 'Globally, platforms struggle to enforce age restrictions effectively, often relying on self-declaration mechanisms that are easily circumvented. 'Enforcement tends to be weak unless backed by strong regulatory requirements and technology-based age assurance. 'Malaysia should expect platforms to strengthen their verification systems and should complement this with national efforts to raise awareness among parents and children about the importance of respecting these thresholds,' he said. Srividhya Ganapathy, the co-chairperson of the Child Rights Innovation and Betterment (CRIB) Foundation, on the other hand, advocated for a more serious approach, stressing that monitoring alone is not enough. 'In practice, children regularly create accounts long before the age of 13, often without any real safeguards in place. The so-called enforcement of age restrictions is inconsistent and largely symbolic. 'Once online, children face a range of risks – cyberbullying being one of the most prevalent. Many children are targeted in private messages or group chats, with little visibility or intervention from adults. For some, the bullying continues across multiple platforms, and the lack of a clear support or reporting pathway means the harm often goes unnoticed and unaddressed. 'We cannot continue to rely on platforms to police themselves. Vague promises of monitoring aren't enough. We need enforceable standards, better age verification, and a proactive, not reactive, approach to safeguarding children online. Children's safety should not be left to the goodwill of corporations,' she said. Tech too soon? From the perspective of those like Srividhya, haphazardly setting an age requirement is not the end of the story. She believes that while such age requirements may serve as a benchmark, there needs to be an overarching strategy that includes measures to provide age-appropriate education so that kids learn how to engage the digital world via smartphones and social media when the time eventually comes. Srividhya believes that there needs to be an overarching strategy that includes measures to provide age-appropriate education so that kids learn how to engage the digital world via smartphones and social media when the time eventually comes. — Photo by Sanket Mishra on Unsplash 'Outright bans often drive children to access technology in secret, without support or protection. 'Instead, we must equip them with the knowledge and confidence to navigate digital spaces safely and responsibly. A minimum age should be the starting point, not the solution. 'We also need to acknowledge the realities faced by Malaysian families. Smartphones are no longer luxuries; they are everyday tools for communication, education, and payment. 'Many parents – especially those who are divorced or working full-time – rely on phones to stay connected with their children throughout the day, whether during custody transitions, at daycare or tuition, or while their child is commuting alone,' she said. Srividhya called for guidelines on digital competencies for kids and parental roles. — ART CHEN/The Star Siraj similarly added that while such restrictions may, in theory, prevent younger children from creating their accounts, they have little bearing on children with access to smartphones who can circumvent them to consume content on these platforms. 'In reality, many children under 13 actively use platforms like YouTube and TikTok, even if the accounts are registered under parents or older siblings. 'Therefore, while benchmarks are important, the more urgent need is for better education and resources for parents and children to use these technologies responsibly and safely from an early age,' he said. While it's clear that smartphones and social media have a place, parental involvement and guidance are crucial, at least according to Allistair Adam Anak Nelson, a registered clinical psychologist and lecturer at the Taylor's University School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He noted that research has drawn a link between the excessive use of social media and screen time at an early age with higher levels of depression, anxiety, poor sleep, body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. These concerns are only heightened by exposure to things such as cyberbullying, unrealistic body standards, and the constant need for online validation. 'Childhood and early adulthood, roughly from the age of 10 to early 20s, is a time when the brain is still developing, especially in areas related to emotion regulation, self-control, and social awareness. 'This makes young people more vulnerable to the emotional highs and lows of social media. 'Age restrictions merely delay the exposure to age-inappropriate or harmful content, as many children can easily bypass them by entering false birthdates. Allistair Adam said thoughtful consideration is needed to develop healthy screen use. — Taylor's University 'Restrictions alone do not address the need for children to learn how to navigate the digital space safely and responsibly,' he said, further stressing the need for digital literacy. Allistair Adam added that it could come in the form of screen time boundaries set by parents, co-viewing content, open communication on media use, and modelling healthy digital habits. 'Children need more than just the ability to use a device – they must understand privacy, recognise safe content, and distinguish between reality and fantasy.' Meanwhile Raihan Munira Moh Sani, a lecturer with the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation's School of Psychology (APU), said that these technologies should not be seen as being inherently harmful. 'When assessing a child's readiness for a smartphone or social media access, it is essential to look beyond age and consider developmental indicators. 'One important factor is social awareness and empathy, where children should be able to understand the impact of their words and actions on others and demonstrate respectful behaviour in both online and offline peer interactions. 'Equally important is their understanding of boundaries. This includes knowing what is appropriate to share online, recognising the importance of privacy, and being aware of screen time limits. 'These indicators reflect a child's ability to navigate digital spaces responsibly and safely,' she said. Clicking into childhood From Allistair Adam's point of view, there are no hard and fast rules on the 'right' age when it comes to children using things like smartphones, social media, or even engaging in online games. 'Often, smartphones are given to children as a digital pacifier to keep them calm or preoccupied, especially in public settings. 'While this may offer quick relief, developing healthy screen time usage requires more thoughtful consideration,' he said. Raihan Munira advised parents to look beyond age and consider developmental indicators to see if their kids are ready for screen use. — APU There are some guideposts available for parents to have a point of reference. For instance, Allistair Adam said that the World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend screen time at all for kids below two years of age, while those aged between two to four should be limited to just an hour each day. Raihan Munira, on the other hand, said that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 18 months old be kept off screen-based media entirely, except for video chatting. She further said that for children aged 18 to 24 months, any digital content should be limited to high-quality programming viewed together with a parent, while for those aged two to five, screen time should be capped at one hour a day. From age six onwards, parents should set clear, consistent limits on both screen time and content. Vinorra Shaker, the head of the school of psychology at APU, highlighted that Malaysian children are becoming increasingly connected with the digital world, which has turned out to be somewhat of a double-edged sword. She said that while Malaysian children are generally tech-savvy, with competency in navigating apps, social media platforms, and games, this does not necessarily translate to being able to engage digital spaces safely. 'Compared to children in some developed countries like those in Scandinavia or parts of Western Europe, Malaysian kids often have less structured digital education. 'This means they might be more exposed to online risks such as cyberbullying, privacy breaches, or harmful content. A Unicef study even found that while Malaysian youth are confident online, many don't fully understand how to protect themselves from threats. 'The good news is that digital literacy programmes are growing in schools, and awareness among parents and educators is increasing. From age six onwards, parents should set clear, consistent limits on both screen time and content, said Raihan Munira. — Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash 'But there's still a gap to close when it comes to teaching children not just how to use technology, but how to use it responsibly and safely,' she said. As Allistair Adam pointed out, 'studies from states such as Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Kedah show that most preschoolers are already using smartphones and other digital devices regularly'. One of the studies, 'Screen Media Dependency And Its Associated Factors Among Preschool Children In Kuala Lumpur' published in the Malaysian Journal Of Medicine And Health Sciences in May 2023, found that over 65% of preschoolers in Kuala Lumpur show signs of dependence on their devices. Another study, 'Determinants of Excessive Screen Time Among Children Under Five Years Old in Selangor, Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study' published in the International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health in March 2022, found that over 90% of preschoolers in Selangor exceed recommended screen time limits, underscoring a lack in digital maturity among Malaysian children when compared to their peers in countries with structured digital literacy programmes. 'This gap between access and readiness increases their vulnerability to digital dependency, cyberbullying, and misinformation. 'It highlights the need for nationwide digital literacy initiatives and child-focused online safety policies,' he said. Greater guidance Srividhya further called for concrete guidelines from the government that are 'clear, practical, and grounded in the realities of Malaysian families, not just borrowed from other jurisdictions or imposed in a top-down way'. 'There's too much uncertainty. Parents, schools, and even platforms are often left to interpret things for themselves, which leads to inconsistent decisions and, ultimately, children falling through the cracks.' She said that the country does not necessarily need new blanket laws, but rather a framework that provides guidance in the form of minimum standards that also offers some flexibility. This could come in the form of general suggestions for platforms based on age, and the specific kinds of digital competencies children need to access them, along with the responsibilities held by parents, educators, and platforms, she added. 'It's not just about when a child can go online – it's about how they should be supported when they do. 'Right now, our response to children's digital access tends to be reactive. A case goes viral, there's public outcry, and we start talking about bans or surveillance. 'But these approaches don't address the core issue: most children are getting online anyway – often unsupervised and unprepared. 'Without national guidelines that put child rights and child realities at the centre, we're just leaving families to figure it out on their own,' Srividhya said. For Allistair Adam, it comes down to ensuring that a child is emotionally prepared to engage with the digital world. 'For parents, assessing readiness involves observing whether the child can regulate their emotions, follow rules, manage screen time without being attached, recognise unsafe or inappropriate content, and communicate openly with their parents on their digital use. 'Children should also be able to balance screen time with other important daily activities such as schoolwork, play and family time. 'Policymakers, on the other hand, can support this by ensuring access to early digital literacy education, promoting age-appropriate platform design, and developing national guidelines that safeguard children's digital well-being. 'In the end, readiness is not just whether a child has the skills to manage screen time but whether they have received the right modelling, guidance, and support to use digital tools wisely – that should be the best indicator,' he said.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sussex mayoral election to go ahead in May 2026
Plans for Brighton and Sussex to hold its first mayoral election in next May and create a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) have been approved by the mayor and MCCA will have responsibility for housing, infrastructure development, the economy, environment, public health and safety, including police and fire services.A government consultation showed while larger councils and academic institutions agreed Sussex would benefit from devolution, residents, town and parish councils and businesses were more & Hove and East and West Sussex council leaders welcomed the approval, with the government saying devolution was "fundamental" to achieving growth. The government's eight-week consultation into devolution and local government reorganisation in Brighton and Sussex held between February and April this year showed that about two thirds of the public did not agree that an MCCA would deliver benefits, support the economy and local needs or improve services or social who disagreed with the proposals raised concerns about the risk of Brighton and Hove and large towns dominating and disproportionally benefiting, while leaving rural communities and other areas also highlighted issues around the erosion of identity, political distrust of mayoral power, and increased complexity and confusion about who is responsible for what. 'Major step forward' Brighton & Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey, said: "Decisions about the things that matter to all of us will be made closer to local people, communities and businesses affected."East Sussex County Council leader Keith Glazier, said: "I believe that everyone in Sussex could benefit from our areas working together and with an elected mayor on some of the biggest issues ahead, such as jobs, transport, housing and the environment."Paul Marshall, the leader of West Sussex County Council, said the government's announcement was "a major step forward in the shaping of local government in Sussex"."By providing us with the next steps we are now closer to bringing major decision making on key areas down to a local level. This provides Sussex with a voice at national level to deliver on vital issues such as transport, infrastructure and health," he said. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said devolution allows for better coordination and more locally-made decisions across strategic policy areas. Council reorganisation continues Alongside devolution of power to a mayor and MCCA, local government reorganisation will see all 12 boroughs and districts and two county councils created unitary authorities will take on the running of day-to-day services like schools, waste, social care, planning applications and managing benefits and & Hove has already been a unitary authority since & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council have until September to finalise plans to submit to the government about how many unitary authorities will be created and across which areas.
