Communications Minister Reprimands YouTube Over Vape Promotion Involving Minors

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) has issued a reprimand to YouTube regarding the promotion of vape products to children in a live broadcast. A first warning letter has been sent to the video-sharing platform.

The promotion was found in YouTube content by Muhammad Jannah, also known as Bigmo. The live broadcast is suspected to have involved minors.

Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said the warning letter forms part of the compliance enforcement mechanism for Private Scope Electronic System Operators (PSE), as regulated under Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation No. 5 of 2020 and other applicable laws and regulations.

In its letter, the Ministry asked YouTube to review and take action against the content, as well as to clarify the steps it has taken and will take. The platform was also asked to strengthen proactive content moderation systems for content that potentially violates child protection principles in digital spaces.

In addition, YouTube was asked to increase the speed of its handling of similar content and to ensure that age detection and restrictions are applied effectively.

“We are asking the platform to act swiftly. Digital spaces must not become places that allow children to be used as a means of promoting products that could endanger their health,” Meutya said in an official statement quoted on Monday (3/8/2026).

YouTube has been given a deadline of at most three days to follow up on the findings. Failure to do so could result in administrative sanctions under prevailing regulations, ranging from a written warning and administrative fines to temporary suspension of services and termination of access.

“The government prioritises guidance and compliance. However, if the obligation to moderate violating content is not carried out, we will not hesitate to take enforcement steps in accordance with applicable regulations,” Meutya said.

Meutya also stressed that exploiting children to promote products not intended for them is a serious violation that cannot be tolerated. In her view, children must be protected from all forms of exploitation in digital spaces.

“Children must be protected from all forms of exploitation in digital spaces. Content involving children to promote vape products clearly contradicts the spirit of child protection and should not be given space on digital platforms,” she explained.