Only 16 per cent parents use internet filtering applications to monitor, protect children - MCMC

The Malaysian Multimedia and Communications Commission (MCMC) on Thursday revealed in a study that only 16 per cent of parents in this country used internet filtering applications in their devices to monitor the safety of their children.

MCMC Network Security and Enforcement Sector chief executive Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin said studies conducted in collaboration with Internet Service Providers (ISP) this year also found that 74 per cent of parents are of the view that children need to be protected from internet abuse.

"The monitoring of internet usage for the family need to be carried out by parents besides enforcement efforts and the use of ISP. This concept is called 'co-regulation.

"Enforcers and the ISP have now created an application to record the usage of internet by children. The parents role is to download the application and use it," explained Zulkarnain.

In the presentation of the study to the media here, he expressed hope that through this initiative it will increase the awareness of parents, resulting in them being more proactive in protecting their children from bad influence on the internet.

Meanwhile, MCMC Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach, Eneng Faridah Iskandar said most children in the country are equipped with a smart phone at an early age of 12.

"We are aware that the internet has become a part of our children's life. Thus, parents should not give full confidence to their children's use of the internet without considering the dire consequences of its misuse," she said.

She added that the study was MCMC's comprehensive effort and involved various parties with the hope of providing a solution for parents to take proactive measures to safeguard their children.

Six ISPs are involved in this initiative, namely Celcom, U Mobile, Digi, Maxis, Time and TM and all ISPs currently have an internet control system which enables parents to monitor, limit usage and ban access to websites selected by them. -- BERNAMA