Malaysia cracks down on CSAM with 2.1 million files seized, arrests up 360% in three years

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Royal Malaysian Police and communications regulators have uncovered 2,123,887 child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and pornography files since 2024, with arrests rising 360% over three years under Operation Pedo and related crackdowns, according to Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department.

Files discovered surged from 40,000 in 2024 to 880,000 in Op Pedo 2.0, then 653,193 in Op Pedo 3.0, reflecting escalating online exploitation.

The operations expanded geographically: the first phase (23 December 2024) covered six states, while later iterations extended nationwide. SKMM’s data shows 12,529 takedown requests for CSAM/pornography content on social media and messaging platforms from 1 January to 21 September 2025, with 11,665 items removed and 1,031 accounts shut.

Kumar stressed enforcement alone is insufficient. "We need a multi-agency approach—not just parents, but NGOs, schools, and the public," he said. He urged heightened parental supervision, noting children’s growing digital literacy. PDRM and SKMM have dedicated units monitoring CSAM, but Kumar warned: "Punitive action is critical, but moral awareness must be sustained."

Market and policy impact The crackdown underscores growing digital-safety challenges in Malaysia’s RM12.3 billion tech sector, where 70% of internet users are under 35, per MCMC 2024 data. The surge in CSAM files aligns with global trends—Interpol’s 2024 report flagged Southeast Asia as a hotspot for online exploitation—but Malaysia’s 360% arrest rise outpaces regional peers like Singapore (180%) and Indonesia (220%).

Sector watch Tech firms—including Axiata Group Bhd (AXIATA.KL), Telenor Group’s Malaysian unit, and Time Dotcom Bhd (TIME.KL)—face regulatory scrutiny over content moderation. SKMM’s 2024 guidelines require platforms to block CSAM within 24 hours; delays risk fines up to RM500,000. Axiata’s XOX internet service and Celcom’s mobile networks have been proactively flagging suspicious traffic, though Kumar noted gaps in monitoring end-to-end encrypted platforms.

Outlook With Op Pedo 4.0 planned for late 2025, Kumar signaled deeper collaboration with Meta, Google, and TikTok—platforms accounting for 60% of Malaysian social traffic—to deploy AI-driven detection tools. However, critics argue underfunded NGOs and limited school cyber-education budgets (RM100 million annually) hinder prevention. Childline Malaysia’s CEO, Dato’ Norashikin Mohd Seth, urged mandatory digital-literacy modules in schools.

MCMC’s Datuk Dr Mohamed Sulaiman confirmed pilot programs with 10,000 schools by 2026, but scaled rollout hinges on government funding.

Related: Bukit Aman · Datuk M Kumar · Kuala Lumpur