KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia has called for closer international cooperation to tackle online dangers that increasingly cross national borders, with policymakers and regulators placing particular emphasis on protecting children from cybercrime, cyberbullying and misuse of personal data.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said participants at the Ministerial-Regulator Roundtable Meeting, held alongside M360 ASEAN 2026, agreed that online threats require coordinated cross-border solutions rather than isolated national responses. The discussions brought together policymakers and regulators from Malaysia and other jurisdictions.

Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said online harm does not stop at national borders, making stronger cooperation among regulators and governments increasingly important. Participants discussed practical regulatory approaches that could improve online safety while building greater trust in digital services.

A major focus of the discussions was the protection of children. Officials highlighted threats including cybercrime, online bullying and the misuse of personal information, while also stressing that young people should still be able to benefit from opportunities offered by digital technologies.

The roundtable also highlighted the role of technology platforms themselves. Malaysian officials argued that companies operating digital spaces should carry meaningful responsibility for user safety rather than leaving governments and individuals to manage online risks alone.

Another area of discussion involved age assurance, digital trust and closer alignment of online-safety principles across different jurisdictions. While individual countries may maintain different regulatory systems, greater coordination could make it harder for harmful actors to exploit gaps between national rules.

The meeting included regional and international participants, including representatives connected with Australia’s eSafety regulatory system and the UK’s communications regulator Ofcom, allowing officials to compare regulatory frameworks and approaches to online safety.

Malaysia’s approach is also linked to its Online Safety Act 2025 and regional commitments under the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Safe and Responsible Use of Social Media Platforms for ASEAN. The government sees regional cooperation as an important part of building a safer digital environment.

M360 ASEAN 2026 is being held in Malaysia on September 9–10, bringing together government officials, regulators and industry leaders to discuss artificial intelligence, digital trust, resilient infrastructure and regional digital integration.

The latest initiative signals that online child protection is increasingly becoming an international regulatory issue. As digital platforms operate across borders, Malaysia is pushing for governments, regulators and technology companies to coordinate their responses instead of addressing emerging online risks separately.