The online social network era: are the children protected in Malaysia?

• Main Authors: Ayub, Zainal Amin, Mohamed Yusoff, Zuryati
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Future Academy 2018
• Subjects: K Law (General)
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/26222/1/UUMILC2017%20403%20414.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/26222/; http://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2018.12.03.40
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

The phenomenon of online social networking during the age of the web creates an era known as the ‘Online Social Network Era’. Whilst the advantages of the online social network are numerous, the drawbacks of online social network are also worrying. The explosion of the use of online social networks creates avenues for cyber criminals to commit crimes online, due to the rise of information technology and Internet use, which results in the growth of the Internet society which includes the children. The children, who are in need of ‘extra’ protection, are among the community in the online social network, and they are exposed to the cyber crimes which may be committed against them. This article seeks to explore and analyse the position on the protection of the children in the online society; and the focus is in Malaysia while other jurisdictions are referred as source of critique. The position in Malaysia is looked into before the introduction of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. It is found that, in the Online Social Network Era, there are inadequate protections for children in the Malaysian legal framework before the introduction of the Act. The effectiveness of the Act which is already passed by the Parliament but yet to be enforced, is yet to be seen.