# Malaysia and France team up for kids' online safety

> French official urges Malaysia-France alliance to protect children from online risks.
- Title: Malaysia and France team up for kids' online safety | Shortify
- Summary: French official urges Malaysia-France alliance to protect children from online risks. French High Commissioner for Children Sarah El Haïry calls for…
- Keywords: malaysia, france, online safety, child protection, social media, age restrictions, child safety, digital rights, news, world, team, kids'
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/24/malaysia-and-france-should-team-up-to-protect-kids-online-says-french-official/240451
- Published: 2026-10-24T16:15:23+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: malaysia, france, online safety, child protection, social media, age restrictions, child safety, digital rights, news, world
## French official calls for Malaysia-France alliance
French High Commissioner for Children Sarah El Haïry urges Malaysia and France to form a coalition for children's online safety at the World Summit on Investing in Children's Wellbeing in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on October 24…

> I think the children safety is a global issue. So for malaysia, for france, for uzbekistan, for morocco, for mexican child, it’s a global progress.
## Digital safety transcends national borders
El Haïry states children's online safety is not confined to individual nations and requires governments to jointly safeguard children's rights in the digital space.
## Malaysia enforces 16-year social media age rule
Malaysia implemented a minimum age of 16 for social media account ownership on June 1, 2026, under the Child Protection Code (CPC) introduced by the Online Safety Act 2025.
## France pursues child-safe social media laws
France aims to prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media, though its initial legislation was struck down by the Constitutional Council on August 14, 2026.
## El Haïry advocates child-safe-by-design approach
El Haïry emphasizes that digital platforms should embed child protection measures from development stages to prevent harm and ensure children benefit from technology.
## Social media age restrictions as protective measures
El Haïry says Malaysia's 16-year social media age rule and verification mechanisms are protective measures, not punishments, to ensure children's digital safety.
## France revises social media laws
On September 14, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a revised proposal to the European Commission for legally robust social media restrictions for children.
## Digital education and parental support needed
El Haïry stresses that parents and teachers must guide children through digital environments while governments provide support to families for online safety.
## Children's digital safety requires global cooperation
El Haïry calls for international collaboration to ensure children's rights are protected in the digital space, emphasizing that digital safety transcends national borders.
## Key takeaway

French High Commissioner for Children Sarah El Haïry calls for Malaysia-France cooperation on online safety to prevent child exploitation and ensure digital rights.