Critics of the new age verification policy are raising significant concerns regarding data privacy and the technical feasibility of the mandate. The prospect of linking social media accounts to MyKad identification data creates a massive centralized repository of sensitive personal information, which could become a prime target for cyberattacks and data breaches. Privacy advocates argue that forcing users to surrender their government-issued identity to private, often foreign-owned, social media companies is a dangerous overreach that could lead to widespread identity theft or unauthorized surveillance.
Beyond privacy, there are serious questions about how effectively these measures can be enforced without creating a digital divide. Many users, particularly those in rural or marginalized communities, may face barriers to accessing platforms if the verification process becomes too cumbersome or requires specific digital literacy skills. Furthermore, tech-savvy minors are likely to find ways to bypass these systems, such as using VPNs or stolen credentials, rendering the policy ineffective while still imposing a heavy administrative burden on service providers and users alike.
Skeptics also worry that this policy could be a precursor to broader internet censorship. By establishing a framework that requires identity verification for social media, the government could potentially expand these requirements to other areas of the internet, effectively ending the anonymity that many users rely on for free expression and political discourse. Critics urge the government to focus on digital literacy and parental control tools rather than invasive identity verification schemes that threaten the fundamental privacy rights of all citizens.