Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged Asean nations to confront online child exploitation with immediacy, warning that predators are using advanced digital tools such as artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to target victims.
Speaking at the Asean ICT Forum on Child Online Protection at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur today, Zahid said regional governments are “dangerously behind” in addressing rapidly evolving online threats.
“AI now enables predators to clone voices, create deepfake images, and manipulate children’s identities — all from behind a screen,” he said. “Online harm has no borders. A predator doesn’t need a passport.”
Malaysia, as this year’s host—with support from UNICEF and UNDP—introduced three key initiatives aimed at strengthening regional child online protection. The proposals include establishing an Asean Child Protection Information Exchange Network to expedite cross-border alerts, implementing a Shared Digital Forensics Protocol to support joint investigations and prosecutions, and introducing an Asean Digital Guardianship Curriculum designed to build early digital literacy among children.
Zahid also underscored the urgency of action with worrying statistics. In 2024, Malaysia recorded approximately 9,000 cyberbullying complaints, which translates to an average of 27 cases per day. He further noted that one in three Malaysian youths has experienced online bullying, while across Asean, 70 per cent of parents remain unaware of the full extent of digital risks faced by their children.
He likened modern dangers to everyday teaching moments:
“Before, parents taught children to look left and right before crossing the road. Today, they must teach them to stay alert on screens.”
During the forum, Zahid also launched Malaysia’s National Child Policy and National Child Action Plan 2026–2030, calling it a significant upgrade to existing protections — combining stronger laws, digital forensics, school-based training, industry partnerships and community engagement.
“We don’t want to disconnect children from technology — we want to empower them to use it safely,” he said.
“Technology may move fast, but our resolve must move faster.”
The two-day forum brings together ministerial delegates, law enforcement officers, UN agencies and digital experts to create a unified regional framework for child online safety.
