Mandatory E Kyc Checks Won T Fix Social Media Harms Says Think Tank

---

 
A THINK tank has expressed concern over the recent announcement that Malaysia will soon make electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) identity verification compulsory for social media platforms.
Calling the move “heavy-handed”, the Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (INSAP) said the mandatory e-KYC verification risks repeating past mistakes and widening distrust instead of addressing root causes violence and online harm.
“The recent tragedies have understandably heightened public concern over the influence of social media on young people and the spread of harmful content online,” stated the think tank’s chairman Datuk Dr Pamela Yong.
“Safeguarding students from digital risks must be a national priority but policy responses should be grounded in evidence, transparency and accountability.”
On Oct 16, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the move was prompted by growing concerns over student safety following recent violent incidents including the alleged rape of a female student in Melaka and the fatal stabbing of a Form Four student by her schoolmate in Petaling Jaya.
Quoted by Utusan Malaysia, Fahmi said he has made it clear to representatives of social media platforms that Malaysia will make e-KYC identity verification mandatory particularly to stop children under 13 from having accounts.
He said he will present the implementation timeline to the Cabinet before an official announcement is made.
Implementation challenges
According to Dr Yong, Malaysia’s regulatory experience shows why restraint and proper oversight matter.
She noted that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had in the past exercised broad discretionary takedown powers and introduced new frameworks such as the Online Safety Bill and platform licensing rules without full public consultation or independent scrutiny.
“These measures criticised by civil-society groups have raised legitimate fears about privacy, arbitrary enforcement and political misuse,” she remarked.
“Introducing another layer of identity registration risks deepening public scepticism rather than building safer digital spaces.”
Further underscoring these concerns are international experiences, for instance the UK’s Online Safety Act which is designed to hold platforms accountable for protecting children but stops short of universal identity registration.
“Even with robust oversight and privacy protections, the UK continues to face implementation challenges such as high compliance costs, privacy risks and user workarounds that undermine its effectiveness,” Dr Yong pointed out.
“Malaysia, which lacks comparable institutional safeguards, should not assume that a blanket verification system will succeed where more advanced jurisdictions still struggle.”
Calling for the government to focus on digital-literacy education, verified parental consent, platform accountability and school-based mental-health support, she stressed that protecting children and promoting responsible online behaviour demand smarter governance.
“Any new policy must be subject to full parliamentary and public scrutiny with strong privacy safeguards and independent oversight. True online safety is built through trust and education, not mass surveillance,” she added. ‒  Focus Malaysia

---