Indonesia Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting Children from Online Threats on World Children’s Day
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid on Thursday reaffirmed the Indonesian government’s commitment to strengthening the protection of children in the digital environment, amid rising threats ranging from terrorist recruitment through online games to exposure to harmful content, including pornography.
“Today is World Children’s Day. We remain committed, together with institutions, ministries, and other agencies, to continuously protect our children,” Hafid stated, stressing the government’s priority of ensuring a safe and responsible digital space for younger users.
A key component of this effort is the coordinated action undertaken by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT), and the police to disrupt terrorist recruitment networks operating via online gaming platforms. Hafid noted that recent joint operations reflect the government’s unified stance against the misuse of digital spaces for radicalization.
According to the 2024 report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Indonesia recorded 5,566,015 cases of online child pornography between 2021 and 2024. Meanwhile, data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) shows that 89 percent of children aged five and older are active internet users, with many accessing social media, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to harmful digital content.
In response, the government has issued Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on Electronic System Governance for Child Protection (PP Tunas), aimed at preventing online exploitation and strengthening safeguards for children.
Hafid also underscored the urgency of restricting underage access to digital platforms, pointing out that various forms of offline criminal activity are rapidly migrating into the online sphere. The government is developing a system to impose strict sanctions on digital platforms that fail to comply with regulations designed to protect minors.
Komdigi is additionally collaborating with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection to expand public education programs, equipping parents and children with the knowledge and tools needed to ensure safety and resilience in the digital environment.
The minister reaffirmed that safeguarding children in cyberspace remains a national priority, requiring continuous, joint efforts across institutions to address evolving digital challenges.
