Analyst Hails Minister of Communications and Digital's Surprise Visit to Meta Offices, Says Digital Sovereignty Must Be Guarded

The Indonesian Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid conducted an unannounced inspection of Meta’s offices, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. The visit is seen as a strong signal from the government in enforcing digital platforms to comply with applicable Indonesian rules.

Cybersecurity expert Alfons Tanujaya says the move demonstrates the government’s seriousness in responding to a range of digital security issues that have become increasingly common, from online scams to the misuse of digital platforms.

According to Alfons, protection of users of digital applications in Indonesia has not been a priority for some global platforms, especially those from large technology groups such as FAANG (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Alphabet/Google).

“If we look at protection for users of digital applications in Indonesia, particularly global large platforms, attention to user security is lacking,” he told detikcom, on Thursday (5/3/2026). “Many scams roam freely on their platforms,” Alfons said.

He cited various scam methods that frequently appear on social media, including those that impersonate a company’s customer service or offer fake transactions through accounts that look credible.

Not only on social media, he noted, but security issues also show up in search engine results that can sometimes display phishing sites at the top.

“For example, when people search for a service online, what appears are phishing sites or fake numbers. This needs to be questioned, as to what extent platform owners care about user security,” he said.

Tough government action

Alfons says the direct visit by Meutya to Meta’s offices represents a serious warning to global digital platforms to be more responsible for the activities taking place on their platforms.

According to Alfons, the visit is not about interfering with technology companies, but about showing that digital security problems in Indonesia have reached a very serious stage.

“Yes, this indicates a concern. We appreciate from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs,” he said.

“There is concern that the crime of digital in Indonesia is serious indeed. And it is all taking place on digital platforms,” he added.

He believes that if platforms previously responded to government communications about problematic content or fraud, such a direct visit might not have been necessary.

Nevertheless, Alfons believes blocking platforms is not the government’s main aim. He said such a measure would only be taken if platforms remain uncooperative after a range of warnings.

According to Alfons, the government has so far tended to prioritise dialogue with digital platforms before taking firm action.

“If we blocked directly without any communication, the public would object. But after warnings, and even a minister’s direct visit, and there is still no change, the public would probably understand,” he said.

Meanwhile, Alfons also acknowledged that many people rely on Meta platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp for business and daily communication.

However, he said, this dependence should not exempt platforms from complying with Indonesian rules.

“If for example, many people are already dependent on Instagram, selling on Facebook, or TikTok selling on TikTok, and because of that [they do not meet] we cannot act, then Indonesia will be chaotic,” he added.

Guarding digital sovereignty

Alfons assesses that the government’s move can also be seen as an effort to safeguard Indonesia’s digital sovereignty. He explains that many cases, especially online scams, are difficult to trace because user data is entirely in the hands of platform operators.

“Yes (to guarding digital sovereignty). If a scam occurs via Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, who knows the IP address of the user? It is the platform itself,” he explained.

“That is why they must take responsibility,” he added.

According to Alfons, without cooperation from digital platforms, enforcement against digital criminals would be far harder. He also warned that handling digital crime, including online gambling and digital scams, cannot rely on a single agency.

He argued for cross‑sector collaboration among the Ministry of Communications and Digital, the police, the Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), and the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN).

“Why? Because tackling each ministry and department separately is uneven, and if they operate alone they won’t be strong. For example, the police may take action against online gambling perpetrators, but if you identify a single WhatsApp number or a website promoting online gambling, they can’t do anything. It has to be with Komdigi,” he said.

“Now Komdigi and the police work together, and then they know, ‘this is channelled to this bank account, to this bank’, but they can’t do anything. Why? They need OJK and PPATK, so they need a unified front,” he added.

Public involvement

Additionally, the public has an important role in helping to eradicate digital crime by reporting cases or suspicious activity on digital platforms. According to Alfons, public reports can help the government map patterns in digital crime and enable more effective enforcement action.

“If the public actively reports, the government can see patterns of digital crime and take more effective action.”