MORE than over 600 sexual crimes against children have been linked to social media platforms or messaging apps, says Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong).
He said based on statistics by the Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11) of Bukit Aman, 354 sexual crimes against children involving the use of WhatsApp were recorded as at Sept 18.
“Another 322 cases were said to be linked to the use of social media platforms,” he added.
Shamsul Anuar said police records showed that some 30% out of 1,160 sexual crimes in 2017 were linked to the use of social media platforms and messaging apps.
He was speaking on the sexual exploitation of children in cyberspace through online applications at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
In response, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Siti Zailah Yusof said that various campaigns and awareness programmes were implemented to educate children and the community on the possible dangers of online sexual crimes.
“Other than that, the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have blocked access to some 400 websites linked to paedophilia and child pornography as at August this year,” she added.
She said the authorities have also launched the Campaign Against Online Sexual Crimes Towards Children at several states on Sept 4 this year.
Siti Zailah said that the responsibility to protect children should not solely be on the shoulders of her ministry and related agencies.
“This responsibility should begin at home with the parents and community,” she added.