The stories shaping Malaysia, in focus.
Malaysia's Communications Ministry has confirmed that social media platforms must verify users are at least 16 years old using official identity documents, with the requirement enforced through the Child Protection Code and Online Safety Act 2025.
A Shanghai court has ruled that a father's repeated posting of family arguments in his son's school chat groups constitutes domestic violence, issuing a personal protection order. The decision highlights how courts are expanding the definition of abuse to include psychological harm in digital spaces.
South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has been cleared of allegations that he violated the country's Child Welfare Act after police determined insufficient grounds existed to prosecute the case.
Vietnam has unveiled a sweeping national programme for 2026-2030 designed to fortify child protection systems, reduce violence and sexual abuse, and eradicate exploitative labour practices affecting minors across the country.
A madrasah principal in Kelantan has been formally charged with three counts of physically sexually assaulting minors at the Sessions Court in Pasir Mas.
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Malaysian child rights organisations have called on all political parties to withdraw campaign materials featuring children and commit to excluding minors from electoral activities, citing international child protection standards and long-term privacy concerns.
After an exhaustive three-year investigation, Johor Bahru police have upgraded the classification of an 18-month-old boy's death from an unexplained incident to murder, with the child's biological father now identified as the primary suspect and facing charges.
Selangor is ramping up child protection efforts across its 1.8 million youth population through a new advocacy programme. The state recorded 2,306 child-related cases in the first six months of 2024, prompting intensified multi-agency collaboration.
Germany's criminal police report a sharp rise in child sexual abuse cases, with artificial intelligence enabling cyber-grooming and fake identities. Livestreamed abuse involving Philippine locations is accelerating, raising concerns across Southeast Asia.
A suspended police corporal entered a not-guilty plea to two counts of sexually assaulting his 11-year-old daughter in May. The case raises fresh concerns about child protection within law enforcement families.
Malaysia's upper house has approved legislation extending the country's jurisdiction to prosecute child sexual offences committed overseas, addressing a dramatic rise in cases involving foreign suspects over the past five years.
France has become the first European Union country to prohibit social media use among children under 15, after parliament approved legislation with strong majorities in both chambers this week.
Malaysia's High Court has upheld a 10-year prison sentence against a former business executive convicted of raping and blackmailing a 14-year-old girl, finding no legal errors in the original conviction.
More than 20 countries are banning or restricting social media for children, with Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia already enforcing laws. The trend reflects growing global concern over online harms to young people.
Malaysian legal authorities and international experts gathered to discuss implementing the Online Safety Act 2025, highlighting tensions between platform accountability and fundamental freedoms while exploring enforcement strategies beyond financial penalties.
A 26-year-old Singapore Armed Forces captain has been charged with possessing at least eight sexually explicit child abuse materials and 20 obscene films. He was suspended from duties following the allegations.
Malaysia's Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is reviewing the Child Act 2001 following 159 recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, with a multi-agency approach to strengthen protections.
An Indonesian court has convicted all 19 members of a baby-smuggling ring that trafficked at least 34 infants between 2023 and 2025, with at least 12 sent to Singapore. The syndicate's mastermind received seven years imprisonment.
Authorities have opened a criminal inquiry into a childcare centre in Kuah, Langkawi, following serious allegations that staff deprived young children of food and confined them to a toilet.
A 66-year-old wheelchair user in Singapore has been sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in prison for systematically sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy between 2020 and 2023, exploiting the child with cash and cigarettes.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has stressed that addressing growing school safety concerns requires a coordinated, strategic approach involving parents, educators, and government bodies working together to protect students.
Thai police have arrested a 28-year-old boxing camp manager in Rayong province on charges of trafficking underage boys for sex. Authorities rescued 12 children and are searching for a Norwegian national believed to have sponsored the illegal operations.
The Dewan Rakyat has passed the Social Work Profession Bill 2026, establishing a regulatory framework for social workers in Malaysia. UNICEF hails the legislation as a crucial milestone toward strengthening child protection and professional standards across the sector.
Philippine immigration authorities have arrested a 72-year-old Canadian national in Laguna province following alerts from Canadian law enforcement about his history of child sexual offenses in multiple Southeast Asian countries.
A South Korean middle school student has filed an official government petition demanding stricter controls on in-flight entertainment, citing exposure to violent and adult content that affected both themselves and their younger sister during a flight.
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Malaysia's Social Welfare Department has strongly cautioned the public against publishing children's identities on social media, warning of legal consequences and long-term psychological damage following a recent school-related viral incident.
The US Supreme Court has declined to block Texas's controversial App Store Accountability Act, which mandates age verification for app downloads. The decision marks a significant victory for child protection advocates but raises concerns among free speech defenders.
A Singapore court has imprisoned a 27-year-old man for 22 years and ordered 24 strokes of the cane for systematically abusing a 13-year-old girl over two months, forcing her into sex work and inflicting physical torture.
A senior citizen has been charged in Melaka court with sexually assaulting two primary schoolgirls in a mosque storeroom. The case highlights ongoing concerns about child protection in community spaces.
European regulators are imposing strict controls on video-game loot boxes to protect minors, with the EU considering an outright ban. The measures threaten billions in annual revenue and could reshape how games are monetised worldwide.
French President Emmanuel Macron and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have issued a joint call for tighter regulation of digital platforms, citing growing concerns about their impact on children's health and development worldwide.
UNICEF reports children are adopting artificial intelligence three times faster than adults, with at least 20 million young users globally. The organisation warns of safety gaps and calls for urgent governance reforms.
Malaysia's parliament has passed legislation extending the Sexual Offences Against Children Act to cover crimes committed abroad, preventing offenders with Malaysian ties from escaping prosecution overseas.