Tune Talk Appoints Dato’ Sasikala Devi to Champion Safer Digital Childhoods in Malaysia
Bringing Public Safety Experience into the Digital World
As children spend more time online for learning, entertainment and communication, keeping them safe in the digital world has become an increasingly important responsibility for parents, schools, technology companies and authorities.
Recognising the need for stronger awareness and practical protection, Tune Talk has appointed Dato’ Sasikala Devi Subramaniam, former Deputy Chief Police Officer of Selangor, as Brand Ambassador for its Epik+ Family Safe plan.
The appointment brings together more than 35 years of law-enforcement experience with Tune Talk’s efforts to promote safer digital participation among Malaysian families.
Dato’ Sasikala’s extensive career with the Royal Malaysia Police included senior positions in the Commercial Crime and Narcotics Crime Investigation Departments. Her experience gives her a unique perspective on the consequences that can occur when prevention and awareness fail.
Through her new role, she will support Tune Talk’s public-education efforts and encourage parents to better understand the online risks faced by children, while highlighting practical ways to prevent problems before they become serious incidents.
Moving from Reaction to Prevention
Children today have access to technology from an increasingly young age. While smartphones and internet connectivity provide valuable opportunities for education and communication, they can also expose children to risks such as inappropriate content, cyberbullying, scams, manipulation, harmful interactions and online exploitation.
For Dato’ Sasikala, protecting children requires a change in mindset.
Instead of waiting for an incident to happen and then taking action, families and organisations should focus on creating safeguards from the beginning.
“For many children, the first mobile connection is the beginning of their digital life. Safety should begin there too,” she said.
She believes children should not have to choose between staying connected and staying protected, while parents should not be expected to manage online safety on their own.
According to Dato’ Sasikala, everyone involved in a child’s digital life has a role to play. This includes families, schools, telecommunications operators, online platforms, regulators and enforcement agencies.
The First Phone Should Come with Safety Education
One of the key ideas highlighted by Dato’ Sasikala is the importance of a child’s first connected device.
A first smartphone is often seen simply as a tool that gives a child access to the internet, social media, games and communication. However, she believes it should also mark the beginning of an important conversation about responsible digital behaviour.
This could include discussions about privacy, online strangers, inappropriate content, cyberbullying, scams, reporting mechanisms and the importance of asking for help.
She also supports practical measures such as family digital agreements, clearer reporting channels, privacy-conscious safeguards and stronger digital literacy for both parents and children.
Recent regulations, including the Online Safety Act and restrictions relating to social media accounts for children under 16, are important steps towards improving online safety. However, Dato’ Sasikala emphasises that legislation and technology alone cannot completely protect children.
Technology as Another Layer of Protection
Tune Talk’s Epik+ Family Safe provides one practical example of how safety features can be introduced at the connectivity level.
The family prepaid plan was launched with network-level protection designed to help parents establish age-appropriate boundaries for their children’s internet use.
The plan includes selectable protection levels and the ability to block certain content categories, subject to applicable product terms.
For parents, these tools can provide an additional layer of protection as children begin using mobile connectivity independently.
Tune Talk Co-founder and CEO Gurtaj Singh Padda said the company believes responsible connectivity should go beyond simply providing access to the internet.
“Families are navigating a digital world that changes rapidly, often without clear or practical guidance,” said Gurtaj.
He added that Dato’ Sasikala brings valuable experience and a public-service perspective that can help make the conversation around child online safety more meaningful.
The partnership aims to help parents move beyond simply being aware of online risks and take practical action to protect their children.
Parental Controls Are Not the Complete Solution
While technology can play an important role, Dato’ Sasikala stressed that parental controls and content filters should not be treated as a complete solution.
A child may still encounter risks through social interactions, messaging platforms, games and other digital environments even when certain content is blocked.
“A filter can support a family, but it cannot replace conversation, digital literacy, responsible platform practices, school policies or law enforcement,” she explained.
For her, the strongest form of protection is a child who understands potential risks, understands why certain boundaries exist and knows where to seek help when something goes wrong.
This approach places education and communication alongside technology as important components of digital parenting.
Building Safer Digital Childhoods Together
Ultimately, Tune Talk and Dato’ Sasikala want to encourage a broader conversation about how Malaysia can create safer digital environments for children.
Rather than measuring online safety only by how quickly society responds to incidents, Dato’ Sasikala believes greater attention should be given to prevention.
“Child online safety should be measured with evidence, not the confidence of advertising,” she said.
This means families, educators, technology companies, policymakers, civil society organisations and enforcement agencies need to work together to understand emerging risks and develop practical solutions.
Tune Talk says it will continue engaging with these stakeholders to promote safer digital participation for children and families.
As smartphones and internet access become an increasingly normal part of childhood, the message is clear: protecting children online should not begin after something goes wrong.
It should begin with the very first connection.
For more information, please visit www.tunetalk.com.
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