Indonesia Targets Digital Platforms with New Child Protection Task Force

JAKARTA, investortrust.id – Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid has taken decisive action by establishing a Task Force for Strengthening Child Protection Regulations in the Digital Space.

The initiative comes as online gambling, pornography, cyberbullying, and sexual violence increasingly threaten Indonesian children in the digital realm. Without stronger safeguards, children are at greater risk of exploitation.

The task force will focus on three key areas. First, strengthening regulations and oversight mechanisms for digital platforms that provide access to children. Second, increasing digital literacy among children and parents to raise awareness of online risks. Third, taking firm action against individuals and entities responsible for distributing harmful content.

“We cannot allow children to grow up in a digital environment filled with threats. The government is here to ensure their safety. This task force will work to strengthen regulations, enhance monitoring, and take firm action against harmful content so that Indonesian children can navigate the internet safely,” said Meutya in Jakarta on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.

The move aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive emphasizing the urgent need to protect children in the digital space. Prabowo has instructed that child protection regulations be finalized within one to two months.

One key aspect under review is age restrictions for social media usage, aimed at reducing children's exposure to harmful content.

To formulate the regulations, Meutya is working closely with Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, and Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin. According to Meutya Hafid, all involved ministers share the same commitment as the President in expediting child protection measures in the digital sphere.

“The Task Force for Strengthening Child Protection Regulations in the Digital Space consists of representatives from the government, academics, industry practitioners, and child advocacy NGOs,” she stated.

Meutya reiterated the government’s commitment to executing Prabowo’s directive. The new regulations will not only tighten supervision and improve digital literacy among children and parents but also ensure stricter law enforcement against perpetrators and distributors of harmful content.

With a direct mandate from President Prabowo, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is committed to completing these regulations within one to two months as a concrete step toward safeguarding Indonesian children. Digital safety for the younger generation is not merely a policy—it is a national priority.

This initiative goes beyond policy on paper—it is a tangible commitment by the government to safeguard Indonesia’s children from the dangers of the digital world.

According to data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Indonesia recorded 5,566,015 cases of child pornography-related content over the past four years, ranking fourth globally and second in ASEAN.

Meanwhile, data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency in 2021 showed that 89% of children aged five and above use the internet primarily for social media, increasing their exposure to harmful content. Cases of online gambling, pornography, cyberbullying, and sexual violence continue to dominate complaints received by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.

“The government is committed to ensuring that children are safe. The digital world must be a space for learning, not a source of danger,” Meutya concluded.