Ahead of Implementation, Analysts Call for Refinement of PP Tunas Regulation

Jakarta – The government will begin implementing Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Protection of Children in the Digital Space, also known as PP Tunas, together with its implementing regulations, by the end of this month. Head of the Equality and Inclusion Division at the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), Aseanty Pahlevi, regards the regulation as an important step to strengthen child protection in the digital space. However, several groups warn that its implementation must be carried out carefully so that the aims of child protection do not inadvertently generate undesirable effects. Aseanty says the implementation of PP Tunas needs to be designed carefully so as not to potentially restrict children’s participation in safe and productive digital communities. “The formulation of the regulation should be conducted proportionally so as not to affect the fulfilment of children’s rights in the digital space, such as the right to access information, to express themselves, and to interact,” Aseanty said in a statement on Friday, 6 March 2026. He added that restrictions not designed proportionally could push children to migrate to digital spaces that lack adequate monitoring and protection mechanisms, thereby creating higher risks. Aseanty emphasised that input from digital literacy advocates and various stakeholders should be taken into account by the government when refining the regulation. “Adopt a precautionary approach, consider many factors, and listen to the voices of many parties to protect children comprehensively. If pushed through (without improvements) via the technical rules, it will appear rushed, at a time when the regulation still needs many improvements,” he said. Brand and Communications Manager for Save The Children, Dewi Sumanah, added that child protection in the digital space cannot rely solely on regulations that restrict, but requires a strengthened support system that can encourage children to continue using digital access for education and personal development. This strengthening includes the roles of families, the educational environment, and the communities where children grow up. All elements need to be educated to become the first, preventive layer of protection. “Children need digital access for education and daily needs. The entire ecosystem around children must support this protective effort; this is a preventive measure. Whether it is parents, the educational environment, or their home environment, all must be educated,” she said.