In-depth reporting on Malaysia and the region.
A Chinese father has sued four major gaming companies for failing to prevent his teenage son's addiction, which led to a drug poisoning incident. He seeks minimal monetary damages but calls for stricter identity verification.
Singapore authorities have arrested and will charge nine people—eight men and one woman aged 20 to 41—for their alleged involvement in sexually exploiting two minors. The woman faces human trafficking charges.
Terengganu police have arrested three individuals, including a minor, over alleged open sale of ketum water. The operation highlights growing concerns about herbal substance distribution in Malaysia's rest areas.
A 36-year-old New Jersey man has been arrested after authorities used a specially trained police dog to locate a hidden cellphone allegedly used to send explicit material to a seven-year-old girl via TikTok and text messaging.
Vietnam has unveiled an ambitious child protection programme through 2030, targeting reductions in child abuse, sexual exploitation and labour through legislative reforms, enhanced services and cross-sector coordination.
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Malaysian child protection organisations have issued a joint statement opposing the use of children in political campaigns, citing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and concerns over exploitation and privacy.
Selangor has launched a comprehensive child protection advocacy programme targeting 1.8 million children in the state. The initiative, developed with multiple government agencies and community partners, responds to rising child welfare concerns including care issues, criminal misconduct, and behavioral problems.
A suspended police corporal entered a not guilty plea at Ampang Sessions Court today to two charges of sexually assaulting his young daughter. The alleged offences occurred in May while the accused remained on bail.
A 70-year-old Singapore man has admitted to systematically sexually abusing 11 children over three decades, including his daughter, granddaughters and nieces. He pleaded guilty to 10 charges on July 24, with sentencing set for September 7.
Malaysia's upper house has approved legislation broadening the country's authority to prosecute child sexual offenders who operate across international borders, responding to a sharp rise in cases involving foreign perpetrators.
Malaysia's communications regulator has removed 1,550 pieces of offensive content involving children since January 2022, working with licensed service providers. New legislation and age-verification measures are strengthening protections.
American singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, faces murder charges in Los Angeles following the discovery of a decomposed body in his Tesla. The victim, Celeste Rivas Hernandez, was 14 when found.
France has become the first European Union member state to ban social media access for children under 15 years old, following parliamentary approval in both legislative chambers this week.
Governments worldwide are moving to restrict or ban social media access for children, with five nations already enforcing bans. Malaysia implemented legislation in June barring under-16s from major platforms, joining Australia, Indonesia, and others in protecting young users.
Malaysian officials and regional experts are grappling with how to protect children online without eroding freedom of expression, with enforcement emerging as the critical challenge.
A Singapore Armed Forces captain has been charged with possessing sexually explicit child abuse materials and obscene films. The 26-year-old was suspended from duties following the allegations.
A 29-year-old Indonesian woman appeared in Singapore's district court facing five counts of child ill-treatment and three voyeurism charges. She allegedly abused two young boys and recorded a six-year-old girl without clothing.
Malaysia's Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is reviewing the Child Act 2001 following 159 recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, with a focus on legal reforms and enhanced child protection.
Malaysia's High Court has upheld a 10-year prison sentence against former company executive Ooi Vin Shen, who was convicted of raping and blackmailing a minor. The judge found no legal errors in the original verdict.
Authorities in Tawau have arrested a 66-year-old man in connection with the rape of a 15-year-old girl with disabilities. The suspect has been remanded for a week as investigations continue.
Authorities have instructed a Langkawi kindergarten to stop operations temporarily while police investigate allegations of child neglect, including reports of improper sleeping conditions and confinement.
UNICEF Malaysia has endorsed the passage of the Social Work Profession Bill 2026 in parliament, describing it as a transformative development that formally recognises social work as a regulated profession and strengthens protections for at-risk children and families.
The UK government plans to impose a default midnight-to-6am curfew on social media apps for teenagers aged 16-17, requiring users to actively change settings to access platforms overnight. Tech companies face legal obligations and regulatory sanctions for non-compliance.
A 36-year-old Melaka trader faces serious charges after his arrest for allegedly molesting ten boys and sexually assaulting one victim over a three-month period beginning in March.
Philippine authorities arrested a 72-year-old Canadian man in Laguna following an alert from Canadian law enforcement regarding his documented history of child sexual offenses across multiple countries.
A South Korean teenager has filed a government petition demanding stricter controls on in-flight entertainment, citing exposure to violent and adult content during a flight. The case highlights ongoing tensions between passenger comfort and child protection regulations.
Police in West Bengal have arrested 35 people for violence and vandalism during protests over the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl whose body was discovered in a pond near Kolkata on July 5.
A 31-year-old Singaporean tutor has pleaded guilty to abusing primary school pupils entrusted to his care at an educational facility. The abuse included physical violence, starvation, and forcing a six-year-old to drink urine, resulting in serious injuries.
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Malaysia's Social Welfare Department has issued a stern warning against publishing children's identities on digital platforms, emphasizing legal consequences and the psychological impact on young people.
A 25-year-old hardware store worker has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges involving his 16-year-old biological sister at a Sessions Court hearing in Kuala Terengganu.
UNICEF data from 10 countries reveals children are adopting artificial intelligence three times faster than adults, with at least 20 million users facing serious safety risks from inadequate regulation and design.
Indonesian prosecutors have sought sentences of up to 10 years for 19 defendants accused of trafficking at least 34 babies between 2023 and 2025, with evidence suggesting at least 12 infants were sent to Singapore in what authorities describe as one of the country's most significant cross-border human trafficking cases.
Malaysia's parliament has approved an amendment allowing prosecution of child sexual offences committed overseas, closing a legal loophole that previously protected offenders with Malaysian connections who operated internationally.
Malaysian parliamentarians from both government and opposition have united in backing amendments to strengthen protections against child sexual abuse, calling for international cooperation, specialist task forces, and comprehensive victim support.
Australia is moving to strengthen its social media ban for children after evidence revealed the December 2024 legislation has largely failed, with seven in ten underage users still maintaining accounts on major platforms.
Indonesia's communications ministry reports that TikTok and YouTube have deactivated 4.7 million accounts belonging to children under 16 following new government regulations. The enforcement reflects broader global efforts to protect young people from social media harms.
Malaysia's Education Ministry will launch coordinated advocacy programmes on child protection laws across schools, following discussions with the Human Rights Commission on addressing bullying and sexual harassment.
Malaysia has implemented mandatory age-verification mechanisms for social media platforms under the new Child Protection Code, effective June 1. The 'Tunggu 16' initiative requires users to be at least 16 years old to create accounts, using secure government-issued credentials.