Parents have been urged to pay closer attention if their children begin turning to artificial intelligence (AI) as a conversational companion, particularly by treating the technology as a friend, boyfriend or girlfriend.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said AI could be useful for obtaining information, opinions and assistance, but stressed that the technology should not be mistaken for a human companion.
He said the concern was particularly relevant to AI systems capable of holding conversations that can make them appear human-like, despite being developed and trained using information provided by humans.
“The most dangerous thing is AI that can talk to us. It can respond as though it is human, but it is not human.
“If necessary, seek help or intervention through the respective schools,” he said when speaking at the 2026 Safe Internet Parents and Teachers Association Convention for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
Fahmi also reminded parents that AI systems can produce inaccurate information, commonly known as hallucinations, while the information generated may not always reflect the latest developments.
However, he said parents should not respond by completely restricting their children’s access to the Internet. Instead, children should be allowed to use digital platforms with appropriate supervision and guidance.
The minister also expressed concern over cyberbullying within the Indian community, particularly among Tamil-speaking users participating in TikTok Group Live sessions, some of which continue until the early hours.
Fahmi said he had previously raised the issue with TikTok, including concerns about the platform’s reliance on AI for content moderation, which may not adequately understand the nuances of certain languages.
He stressed that language moderation should not depend entirely on AI because automated systems may struggle to understand cultural context, meaning and expressions that could be used to bully or target individuals.
In a separate media briefing, Fahmi said social media platforms had been given several months to strengthen their systems following the implementation of the Child Protection Code (CPC) and Risk Mitigation Code (RMC).
He said both codes had already been communicated to social media operators, who were given time to understand the requirements and make the necessary changes to their systems.
The measures are aimed at preventing social media platforms from becoming channels for criminal activities such as scams, online gambling, cyberbullying and other offences.
“The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is currently in Singapore holding discussions with platforms, including YouTube, on the acceptance and implementation of the CPC and RMC.
“Once both codes are fully applicable, platforms that fail to comply may face court action and very high fines,” he said.
The convention, organised by Yayasan GoStrong Malaysia in collaboration with MCMC, brought together nearly 500 participants, including parents, teachers, PIBG leaders, school administrators, government agency representatives, strategic partners and members of the community.
