CSAM: A growing mental health, child protection crisis

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 26): The discovery of more than 880,000 digital files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and adult pornography during a recent law enforcement raid must not be taken lightly.

More alarming still, the amount of CSAM uncovered through Ops Pedo 2.0, increased twentyfold compared to the previous Ops Pedo operation, clearly illustrating how serious the issue has become in the country.

Ops Pedo 2.0, carried out by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in September, resulted in the arrest of 31 individuals across 37 locations.

The national findings clearly indicate a significant rise in the production and distribution of CSAM, particularly through anonymous accounts, closed networks and cashless payment systems.

To address this threat, the government will enforce a minimum age of 16 for access to social media, supported by age and identity verification mechanisms.

At the same time, MCMC is also enforcing the Deeming Provision, which ensures that all social media platforms bear clearer responsibility for user safety, particularly in protecting children and families.

Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Dr Nathratul Ayeshah Zulkifli, said the CSAM issue must be viewed as a serious mental health and child protection crisis.

She said the impact of CSAM is profound, multilayered and can severely damage a child’s psychological development if not controlled and monitored immediately.

“Exposure to CSAM constitutes a form of sexual trauma, even if the child is ‘only viewing’ the content and is not a direct physical victim.

“From a clinical perspective, a child’s brain does not have the cognitive and emotional capacity to process sexually exploitative content, especially when it is violent or humiliating.

“Among the earliest effects are acute trauma reactions. Children may experience nightmares, flashbacks, extreme fear and avoidance behaviours after being exposed to CSAM.

“When exposed to CSAM, the brain’s ‘fight-or-flight’ system (the amygdala) becomes overactivated, causing children to constantly feel threatened even when they are in a safe environment,” she said when contacted recently.

According to her, children exposed to CSAM may also experience prolonged anxiety and fear. They may become afraid to be alone, fearful of physical touch, or fearful of certain situations associated with the content they have seen. In some cases, this anxiety can develop into generalised anxiety disorder.

At the same time, Dr Nathratul said CSAM can also trigger immediate emotional disturbances such as feelings of disgust, shame and guilt.

Children may frequently blame themselves after viewing such content, and this guilt can become internalised and damage their self-esteem.

“Other effects include sleep disturbances, where children may suffer from insomnia, frequent night awakenings or fear of sleeping alone. Sleep deprivation then affects their emotional functioning, concentration and academic performance.

“Changes in appetite can also occur as a manifestation of stress. Some children lose their appetite, while others overeat as a self-soothing mechanism. Both have implications for physical and emotional health,” she said.

From a behavioural perspective, Dr Nathratul said CSAM can lead to imitation or confusion over sexual boundaries, particularly among younger children who are at risk of mimicking behaviours they have seen without understanding the implications, due to natural curiosity and still-immature moral development.

In the medium to long term, repeated exposure to CSAM increases the risk of serious psychiatric disorders, including depression, feelings of hopelessness, low self-worth and loss of interest in daily activities.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may also develop, especially if exposure occurs repeatedly or involves elements of coercion, threats or grooming.

“Childhood PTSD often presents with hidden symptoms such as behavioural regression, learning difficulties and emotional outbursts, which disrupt the formation of a healthy self-identity.

“Children may also develop negative perceptions of their own bodies, feeling ‘dirty’ or worthless. This can lead to body image issues and eating disorders during adolescence.

“At the same time, sexual identity development may become distorted. Early exposure to pornography and sexual exploitation shapes inaccurate understandings of intimacy, consent, power and affection. This increases the risk of unhealthy relationships in the future,” she said.

From a neuropsychological perspective, she explained that sexual trauma exposure affects the brain’s executive functions, leading to difficulties with concentration, poor impulse control and an inability to regulate emotions in a healthy manner.

More seriously, exposure to sexually exploitative content can increase the risk of self-harming behaviour and suicidal ideation.

She added that the impact of CSAM does not affect individuals alone, but can trigger a cycle of victimisation, where affected children face a higher risk of perpetuating problematic behaviours in adulthood.

Dr Nathratul also believes that MCMC’s Deeming Provision is critically important as it places clear responsibility on platforms to prevent, detect and respond swiftly to CSAM. From a mental health perspective, she said, every moment of delay increases the risk of trauma.

“However, this protection is not absolute. User-generated content, the use of fake accounts and the sophistication of cyber predators make CSAM extremely difficult to eradicate through technology alone.

“Platform designs that prioritise maximum engagement can also increase the risk of accidental exposure, while algorithms that recommend content based on clicks may lead children into harmful content pathways without any initial intent.

“Therefore, parents cannot relinquish their role. Supervision, open communication and education on sexual and digital safety must begin at home. Children need to know that they can report concerns without fear of punishment.

“Schools and communities, meanwhile, serve as the frontline for early detection. Teachers, counsellors and healthcare workers need to be trained to recognise signs of sexual trauma linked to online exposure,” she said.

Overall, the government must also ensure access to child-friendly psychological support and crisis services that are stigma-free and easily accessible, especially for victims of online sexual exploitation.

“The MCMC Deeming Provision is an important foundation for protection, but it is only one component of a much larger protection ecosystem.

“The ultimate goal is not merely to remove harmful content, but to safeguard the minds, emotions and futures of children.

“True protection can only be achieved when laws, technology, parenting and education move in tandem to ensure children grow up in a digital environment that is safe, ethical and humane,” she said.