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Under-16 social media users have been given one month to download their personal data before facing account suspensions
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has announced that underage users have exactly one month to download their personal data before platforms restrict or suspend their accounts.
According to the New Straits Times, this swift crackdown comes as Putrajaya begins enforcing strict new age-verification rules under the Child Protection Code (CPC) and the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC).
Social media giants now have a six-month window to verify the ages of all existing profiles across the country
The new mandate officially targets major tech platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Under the new guidelines, these licensed service providers must ensure that only individuals aged 16 and above can register new accounts using official government-issued documents.
Failure to implement these rules could trigger heavy penalties under the Online Safety Act 2025.
Commenting on the enforcement, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil emphasised that foreign tech companies operating within Malaysia must respect local digital sovereignty
"Some platforms seem to think they are bigger than our country. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. If you want to do business and operate in our country, respect our laws," Fahmi said.
He had previously noted that the move aims to protect children from online predators rather than limiting free speech.
