Amid growing concerns about children’s online safety, the Malaysian government is now exploring the possibility of introducing licensing and identity verification for online games and digital apps.
Government spokesman and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said that currently many online games, including Roblox, are not covered by any licensing framework, which could be risky for children.
“We want to formulate a policy that will cover the entire digital ecosystem, not just one or two games,” he said. Currently, only social media and messaging platforms are covered by licenses, but not gaming apps.
New initiatives increase child abuse incidents
In a recent incident, a nine-year-old boy in Batu Pahat, Malaysia, hit his six-year-old brother over a dispute over Roblox. Consequently, it caused a nationwide outcry. Since the incident, the government has been more vigilant about the psychological impact and safety risks of online games on children.
Fahmi said, “The police have already started an investigation, and there are initial indications of Roblox’s influence.”
Technology Solutions and International Communications
The minister also said that he had met with Roblox representatives in South Korea and Australia to learn more about the safety limits and feature restrictions for minors.
Roblox has restricted some features, such as chat or user interaction, for players under 13. However, according to Fahmy, “Many other apps are still very accessible to children, which is a danger.”
He added that Roblox is now introducing age verification using artificial intelligence (AI), and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will hold technical consultations to learn more about this process.
Parental Awareness and Government Plans
Fahmi was clear that “devices are not parents, and are not a substitute for caring for children.”
He has directed MCMC to highlight the role of parents more strongly in the upcoming “Safe Internet Campaign.”
The government is also considering introducing a digital identity verification or e-KYC system, which can verify the age and identity of users using MyKad, passport, or MyDigital ID.
Strict vigilance on child protection
In light of this move, Fahmi also mentioned the recently discussed OMI app incident, in which a 12-year-old child was sexually abused online by an adult.
However, he said, “I have called the relevant app companies to explain their security measures. In the future, we will look at expanding the age and identity verification policy.”
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