Indonesia to sanction platforms violating child protection rules

hartono · Nov 10, 2025

Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid delivers a speech at the 45th Anniversary of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the University of Sumatera Utara (USU) in Medan City, North Sumatra, on Saturday (November 8, 2025). ANTARA/ (HO-Kemenkomdigi)

Medan, North Sumatra (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is developing a system to enforce strict sanctions on digital platforms that violate Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 concerning child protection in electronic systems.

The regulation, launched on March 27, 2025, mandates platforms to filter harmful content, verify user age, prohibit commercial profiling of children’s data, and provide transparent reporting and remediation mechanisms.

Minister Meutya Hafid here on Sunday emphasized that the sanctions target platforms, not individuals: “These sanctions will be imposed on the platforms, not on mothers or children.”

“We still have time to refine the system before we fully enforce the sanctions,” she added, signaling a phased implementation approach.

Indonesia is the second country globally, after Australia, to introduce a regulation delaying children’s access to digital platforms.

Hafid acknowledged potential resistance from companies but affirmed the government’s resolve under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership.

The ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection to educate families on digital safety, aiming to nurture future leaders who are “intelligent, tolerant, and ethical.”

This initiative responds to alarming data: the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported over 5.5 million items of child pornography in Indonesia between 2021 and 2024, while Statistics Indonesia (BPS) found that 89 percent of children aged five and older use the internet, mostly for social media.

The regulation reflects Indonesia’s commitment to shielding children from cybercrime and digital exploitation.

By holding platforms accountable and promoting digital literacy among families, the government seeks to create a safer online environment for its youngest citizens.