In conjunction with the decision to prevent Malaysians under the age of 16 from registering accounts on social media platforms, another announcement was made regarding these platforms today.
Social media platforms operating in Malaysia will be required to implement the eKYC or electronic Know Your Customer system by the second quarter of next year (2026). Communications Minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today said that the Communications and Multimedia Commission has been directed to notify all social media platforms that have registered in Malaysia to implement the system.
This instruction to the MCMC is also intended to give these platforms sufficient time to implement the system by the second quarter of next year.
The implementation of the eKYC system is to ensure that all individuals and users who register on these platforms are verified to be 16 years of age and above. Their accounts found to be under 16 years of age can be frozen, and reactivated after they have passed the minimum age limit of 16 years.
In terms of the eKYC system, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said that among the methods that can be used to verify identity include the use of an identity card or passport which is commonly used to verify identity, or the MyDigitalID digital verification system which has already begun to be used to verify identity on local applications.
