Malaysia to Require Government ID Age Verification for Social Media Users

Malaysia will begin enforcing mandatory age verification for social media users through government-issued identification documents under new online safety regulations set to take effect on June 1, authorities announced on Saturday.

The measures come as part of two new regulatory codes introduced under Malaysia’s Online Safety Act by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission aimed at strengthening child protection and reducing digital risks across social media platforms.

Speaking on the new framework, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said users will now be required to verify their age using official documents such as national identity cards, passports or other government-issued records.

The regulations include a “Child Protection Code” and a “Risk Reduction Code,” both designed to prevent individuals under the age of 16 from opening accounts on social media platforms operating in Malaysia.

“We have now instructed platforms to implement age verification,” Teo said, according to the state news agency Bernama. “If the process depends only on self-declaration, anyone can simply click and claim they are over 18.”

The government has not mandated a specific verification technology, leaving social media companies flexibility in determining how to comply with the new requirements.

Authorities said platforms will be granted a reasonable transition period to implement age verification procedures for existing users before enforcement actions begin.

Officials are still discussing the timeline for legacy account verification with major social media companies, including TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

Under the proposed framework, accounts that fail to complete the verification process could eventually be suspended or shut down. Teo added that platforms may also be required to deploy artificial intelligence systems to ensure users meet the minimum age threshold.

Malaysia had previously announced plans to prohibit children under 16 from owning or operating accounts on social media platforms with more than eight million users inside the country.

According to officials, the new codes were drafted following consultations held since the beginning of the year with industry representatives, civil society organizations and other stakeholders.

The government has increasingly linked tougher digital regulations to rising cybercrime concerns. Teo revealed that Malaysia recorded 23,367 online fraud cases between January and April this year alone, resulting in financial losses totaling 680.3 million Malaysian ringgit.

She also said more than 11,000 nationwide internet safety programs had been conducted since the launch of Malaysia’s Safe Internet Campaign in January 2025, reaching over 1.8 million participants, including students, parents, teachers, senior citizens and local communities.