After Public Backlash, Ministry Backpedals on WhatsApp Call Ban Rumors
Main Takeaways
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JAKARTA, investortrust.id — Indonesia’s Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid has firmly stated that the government has no plans to restrict internet-based voice or video calling services such as WhatsApp Call, following public outcry over a previous official’s comments.
In a written statement issued Saturday, July 19, 2025, Minister Meutya moved to dispel public concern sparked by comments from a senior ministry official earlier in the week. She confirmed that there is no ongoing or planned policy to block or limit access to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.
“I want to emphasize that the government is not drafting or even considering any restriction on WhatsApp Call. The circulating information is false and misleading,” Meutya said.
Earlier, Denny Setiawan, Director of Strategy and Digital Infrastructure Policy at the same ministry, suggested during a policy discussion that the government was exploring ways to limit high-capacity OTT (over-the-top) services such as WhatsApp, Zoom, and Telegram. He cited infrastructure burden and the lack of fair contributions from foreign platforms as reasons for the potential regulation.
Setiawan’s remarks prompted headlines and concern that Indonesia might follow countries like the UAE in limiting features like voice and video calls. The ministry has since clarified that his comments reflected early-stage discussions and not an official policy position.
Minister: Industry Proposals Never Entered Formal Agenda
According to Minister Meutya, while the ministry has indeed received proposals from local industry groups—namely the Indonesian Telecommunications Providers Association (ATSI) and the Indonesian Telematics Society (Mastel)—those inputs have never advanced to formal policy deliberations.
“These suggestions have never been discussed in any policymaking forum and have never been part of the ministry’s official agenda,” she said.
The minister also apologized for any anxiety caused by the misleading reports and promised swift internal clarification.
“I have instructed the relevant officials to immediately conduct internal clarification and ensure that no policy direction is aimed at restricting digital services,” Meutya added.
Focus Remains on Digital Equity and Security
Rather than imposing new restrictions, Meutya reiterated that the ministry’s current priorities include expanding internet access in underdeveloped areas, boosting digital literacy, and enhancing cybersecurity and data protection.
The initial reports, suggesting restrictions on WhatsApp Call and similar features, had triggered backlash from digital rights advocates and everyday users alike. Many expressed concerns about rolling back digital freedoms and returning to a pre-VoIP era.
Heru Sutadi, Executive Director of the Indonesia ICT Institute, previously said that restricting VoIP would be a “setback” and urged the government instead to explore requiring OTT platforms to register as legal entities in Indonesia to promote fair taxation and local job creation.
Photo Caption:
Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid issues a clarification about WhatsApp Call access in Jakarta on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Photo: Humas Kemenkomdigi