MCMC reviewing need for tighter rules on Roblox, video games

KUALA LUMPUR:
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is reviewing the need for further regulatory measures on online gaming platforms, including Roblox, to enhance child protection against digital safety risks.

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said MCMC, together with the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF), is currently studying online gaming trends and associated risks, including user-to-user interactions, in-game content, and protective safeguards implemented by platform providers.

He said the study also takes into account international practices and frameworks to identify suitable, effective safeguards for implementation in Malaysia.

“At the same time, CMCF is conducting a public consultation to develop a gaming sub-code involving various stakeholders, including app store operators, local and international game developers, online safety experts, the e-sports industry, legal practitioners, and researchers.

“The findings of this study and consultation will serve as the basis to consider evidence-based, risk-proportional regulatory measures to ensure the safety of users, especially children, continues to be safeguarded,” he said when winding up the debate on the 2027 supply bill (2027 budget) at the policy stage for the communications ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Fahmi said the government is also prioritising parental education and awareness, particularly on activating parental control functions on personal devices and online services.

He said this initiative is being carried out through a safe internet campaign.

The campaign, allocated RM58.7 million under the budget, targets not only students and children, but also provides education and advocacy programmes for parents, guardians, teachers, and local communities.

This collective approach, he added, ensures that the responsibility of protecting children from online threats is shared across families, educational institutions, communities, government agencies, and service providers.

In a related development, Fahmi said 14,706 instances of pornographic content and child sexual abuse material were taken down, while 5,170 pornographic websites were blocked between Jan 1, 2022, and Sept 30, 2026.

Addressing the misuse of artificial intelligence and deepfakes – specifically the circulation of digitally altered nude images involving schoolgirls in Seremban – he said the case remains under investigation by the police. MCMC is collaborating closely with the police and platform provider Meta, he added.

MCMC records also showed that 5,341 complaints concerning cyberbullying and online harassment were lodged between Jan 1, 2023, and Oct 15, 2026.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said 828,438 online gambling-related posts and materials were taken down, and 7,411 illegal gambling domains were blocked by service providers following directives from MCMC between Jan 1, 2022, and Sept 15, 2026.

Enforcement against illegal gambling has also been stepped up through joint operations with the police, including Op JOL and Op Soga XI this year, targeting illegal online bookmaking and betting linked to the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

“MCMC has also enhanced operational cooperation with the police and telecommunications service providers through Op Pancing and Op Delusi to curb the large-scale dissemination of short messaging service spam, using fake base transceiver station (fake BTS) equipment containing phishing links to deceive users,” he said.

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