TikTok Must Set Effective Mechanism To Block Users Below 13 - Fahmi 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- TikTok has been urged to establish effective mechanisms to curb underage users, as existing measures have failed to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platform.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the social media platform has been instructed to work with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on the matter.

“We (the Communications Ministry) found that one of the main problems on TikTok and other social media platforms is the presence of children under 13, which is not permitted under their community guidelines.

“PDRM and MCMC must set a timeline and clear mechanisms for the platform to enforce restrictions on users below the age of 13,” he told reporters after a meeting with TikTok’s top management, PDRM and MCMC at Bukit Aman today.

Among possible measures, Fahmi said, are the use of electronic ‘Know Your Customer’ (e-KYC) systems and restricting access to certain features such as commenting and sharing videos until users verify their identity.

Fahmi said his visits to schools, particularly primary schools, revealed that even Year One pupils were found to have TikTok accounts, despite the platform’s policy prohibiting users under 13.

“I don’t see TikTok enforcing this prohibition aggressively. Their approach has been very weak, and the existing mechanism is ineffective,” he said.

However, he stressed that the government has no plans to block TikTok in Malaysia but will review possible legal action against the platform if it fails to comply with regulations.

On Tuesday, Fahmi said TikTok’s top management was summoned to Bukit Aman over delays in cooperating with police investigations into the spread of fake news on the platform.

He said the matter included posts by an individual falsely claiming to be a surgeon in the Zara Qairina Mahathir case.

-- BERNAMA