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Indonesia sets platform age limits for children from March 28
Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) will enforce age limits on high-risk digital platforms from 28 March 2026 under Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025, known as PP Tunas, on governance of electronic systems to protect children.
The regulation, signed by President Prabowo Subianto on 28 March 2025, requires platforms to restrict access so users must be at least 16 for high-risk services and at least 13 for lower-risk services.
Meutya Hafid, minister, said the rule targets technology companies and sanctions platforms that fail child protection duties, not children or parents.
Komdigi cited risks including exposure to harmful content, contact with strangers online, child exploitation, and addictive use affecting mental health and development.
Komdigi said Indonesia has 229 million internet users, and nearly 80% of children in the country are already online.
UNICEF data cited in the announcement found about half of internet-active children had been exposed to sexual content on social media, and 42% reported feeling scared or uncomfortable online.
The government said its records show about 1.45 million cases of online child exploitation (timeframe not specified).
Komdigi said implementing the regulation requires cross-ministry cooperation and stressed platforms operating in Indonesia must comply with national law.
🔗 Source: Kompas.com
🧠 Food for thought
Implications, context, and why it matters.
The details behind Indonesia’s new digital age gate expose an industry clash
- The rule sets age limits, yet tech industry groups say the age-check standards are still undefined. They warn this could raise privacy risks and drive up compliance costs, which may hit startups hardest 1.
- The government calls economic harm fears “unproven claims” and cites Australia and the European Union, which run similar rules without a strong record of economic fallout 2.
- Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 (PP Tunas) also requires effective parental controls, higher privacy defaults for child accounts, and a ban on using children’s data for commercial profiling or location tracking 3.
Indonesia’s law adds pressure for platform accountability worldwide
- The rule fits a wider push for government action after platform self-policing fell short. Internal documents from Meta and TikTok say employees knew their products could harm teens 4.
- Responsibility is moving up the supply chain. Indonesian industry associations want operating systems, software platforms that run smartphones, such as iOS and Android, to serve as the main gatekeepers for age checks instead of placing the burden on each app 2.
- In emerging digital economies, vague or expensive compliance could weigh more on smaller local firms and cool foreign investment, which could slow innovation while safety goals expand 1.
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