Selangor records about 3,000 child abuse and neglect cases up to September
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has highlighted how a single child’s photograph shared online today can be copied and manipulated by artificial intelligence (AI) and circulated for years, stripping children of control over their digital identity.
MCMC deputy managing director (Development) Eneng Faridah Iskandar flagged the circulation of child sexual abuse material as one of the commission’s gravest concerns, urging parents to reconsider oversharing their children’s photos online.
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“Once an image enters the digital space, it can spread widely. It could haunt that child for life, and that is what worries us most,” she told theSun in an interview.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Child Protection Leadership Conference 2026, Eneng said oversharing could deprive children of the right to decide how their privacy and identity were represented online.
“When they grow up, they may look back at those childhood photographs and no longer want them online. In terms of their privacy, identity and what happened when they were young, they were not given a choice.”
Eneng said she did not have complaint data specifically involving AI-manipulated images of children, but the risk was widely recognised as the technology made it easier to alter images.
She urged parents and guardians to be more selective about what they shared online, including taking simple precautions such as concealing a child’s face.
“Anything online can be captured, reshared and spread. We may think our network is small, but a post can be circulated widely and attract millions of views.”
Eneng said removing harmful content involving children was generally not the main obstacle, with greater awareness and reporting needed to address the risks.
“The content takedown process is usually not an issue, especially if it is related to children. Platforms are very sensitive to that, but sometimes it may be a case of reporting or awareness.”
She said the Online Safety Act established nine categories of online harm that platforms must mitigate, including child sexual abuse material, fraud and hate speech.
“At least we have a baseline. Platforms have a positive obligation to review the content and consider taking it down if it reaches the required threshold.”
Meanwhile, Selangor Social Welfare Department Children’s Division senior assistant director Roziah Osman said welfare intervention begins once a report of abuse or risk is received.
A child protector would visit the location and conduct an initial assessment.
Depending on the findings, the child could be taken to hospital for an examination or moved to a safe location while officers identified a suitable caregiver.
Roziah said securing family cooperation remained a major challenge, particularly when suspected abuse within a household was reported by neighbours or other third parties.
“When the report does not come from the family, such as a neighbour reporting suspected abuse, securing their cooperation can be difficult.”
She said the department recorded about 3,000 cases under Section 17 of the Child Act 2001 up to September, covering neglect and emotional, physical and sexual abuse, with physical abuse accounting for the largest category.
“Abuse does not necessarily happen only at childcare centres. It can take place at home or in school. Many reports involve abuse within the family itself,” Roziah said