Upcoming online safety law to improve children’s protection against cybercrime

KOTA TINGGI: The upcoming Online Safety Bill, which will be tabled in December, will see parents play a more proactive role in protecting their children from cybercrime, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (photo).

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal Affairs and Institutional Reforms) added that parents should be responsible for supervising their children due to the increasing cases of online scams and exploitation of youth.

She spoke about this after being personally involved in rescuing Malaysians from a job scam in Cambodia where two victims were forced to work as con artists.

“I got involved after my officer informed me about the case a month ago; on October 18, I met with the Cambodian Ambassador to Malaysia, Ouk Chandara, and within a week the situation was resolved.

It’s not just about scams; there is a growing trend of sexual exploitation and threats, and young people are at risk. These children are lured by people they know, sometimes even by their friends. It is not something we can ignore,” she says.

She said this when met after the MyLesen transfer program held at a hotel in Bandar Penawar on Saturday (November 9).

Azalina added that the government, through the Online Safety Bill, will increase its efforts to detect and prevent online exploitation.

“Through this bill, authorities will implement a new system for detecting suspicious online activity. If there are any signs of trouble, we will act quickly to detect the situation and take necessary action,” she said.

Azalina said education and awareness in tackling these issues are essential, adding that while smartphones are essential communication tools, they can also be used as weapons by predators.

“Our phones can connect us to the world, but they can also be used for exploitation and control. It is essential that we teach our children to use it responsibly,” she added.