Densus 88 Supports Gadget Restrictions in Islamic Boarding Schools, Citing SMA 72 Case
The Anti-Terrorism Unit (Densus 88) of the Indonesian National Police Headquarters supports the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ (Kemenag) decision to issue Circular Letter of the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Number 19 of 2026 regarding the Restriction of Gadget Use in Educational Units under Kemenag.
“Densus 88 Anti-Terror stands with the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and fully supports the issuance of Circular Letter Number 19 of 2026,” stated Densus 88 Anti-Terror Spokesperson, Senior Commissioner Mayndra Eka Wardhana, in a written statement on Sunday (20/9).
Mayndra noted that this step is a crucial strategy to shield the younger generation from the infiltration of terrorism and extremism on social media. He emphasised that early protection must begin strictly within the family and school environments.
“This firm step is vital to break the chain of propaganda and the recruitment of radicalism and extremism, which is now massively targeting children through social media,” he said.
According to Mayndress, this Circular Letter serves as tangible evidence of the government’s seriousness in conducting early terrorism risk mitigation. It is undeniable that the spread of radical ideologies has recently utilised digital spaces to approach their targets.
Drawing from previous incidents, radical groups typically conduct intensive indoctrination on social media before triggering physical actions, similar to what occurred at SMAN 72 in North Jakarta.
“This Circular Letter strengthens cross-sector collaboration between the Police and the government to narrow the movement of radicalism in educational institutions. We must not be caught off guard again. The case at SMAN 72 serves as a loud alarm; digital infiltration is real and dangerous,” he added.
Mayndra also assessed that this regulation restores the vital role of parents in supervising children’s digital activities. The restriction encourages children to return to healthy socialising in the real world.
“Restricting gadgets at home and school will restore children’s interaction spaces. They will have more quality time with families and peers, such as playing sports or recreational activities. This is much healthier for their development,” he said.
Previously, the Ministry of Religious Affairs issued the Circular Letter of the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Number 19 of 2026 regarding the Restriction of Gadget Use in Educational Units under Kemenag. These religious educational units include madrasas, pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), diniyah education, theology schools, pasraman, pesantian, widyalaya, dhammasekha, and similar institutions.
Secretary-General of Kemenag, Kamaruddin Amin, stated that the regulation regarding gadget use is not intended to distance students from technology. He noted that the use of digital technology remains necessary for learning, but its use must be directed and appropriate to needs.
“We do not want to distance children from technology. What we want to build is the ability to use technology in a healthy, safe, wise, and responsible manner. Gadgets can still serve as learning tools, but their use must be directed and proportional,” said Kamaruddin, as quoted from a written statement on Sunday (20/9).
The regulation prohibits students from using gadgets within the educational unit environment, except under direct instruction from teachers for learning activities. Gadgets may only be used before or after school hours, or in emergencies with permission from teachers or class tutors.
The provisions also apply to teachers and educational staff. They are prohibited from using gadgets during teaching and learning activities if the use is unrelated to the learning process.
Educational units may provide lockers or storage areas for gadgets in every classroom or staff room. Teachers or class tutors may also collect gadgets at the start of lessons and return them when students leave, with devices turned off or in airplane mode.
Furthermore, gadget use supervision is strengthened within the family environment. The regulation directs parents or guardians to set limits on gadget use at home to a maximum of two hours per day, excluding educational needs.
Parents are also encouraged to activate parental control features, including content age restrictions, app purchase or download restrictions, safe search, and screen time settings. Gadget use is directed to take place in open areas of the home, such as the living room, rather than the bedroom.