Three more ASEAN countries show interest in child online safety cooperation
Malaysia’s communications minister says regional coordination could strengthen dealings with major social media platforms.
Thailand, Brunei and Cambodia have indicated interest in working with Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore on children’s safety online, Malaysian Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said on November 1.
Speaking after a Safe Internet Campaign event at Multimedia University’s Melaka campus in Bukit Beruang, Fahmi said the interest reflected a shared direction within ASEAN. He said discussions with his Indonesian and Singaporean counterparts had already shown agreement on the issue.
Fahmi said a coordinated regional position could strengthen engagement with major social media platforms. He argued that platforms regard Southeast Asia as one market, making a common position across all or most of the region helpful.
Malaysia and Indonesia had previously agreed to cooperate through their agencies on implementation, with Singapore’s involvement also being planned.
Fahmi said Malaysia was studying restrictions introduced elsewhere, including Australia, and monitoring recent cases in New Mexico in the United States to inform possible action and future steps.
He also said the Safe Internet Campaign had reached schools across Malaysia, while the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission continued to update its content.
