Digital Minister: Tunas Regulation Protects Children's Data in Digital Space

Jakarta - The Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi), Meutya Hafid, has emphasised that the introduction of Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Protection and Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (PP Tunas) is urgent for Indonesia, as it can safeguard privacy while protecting children’s data in the digital space. This was conveyed in light of studies and legal cases in other countries where children’s data and privacy in the digital realm have been exploited and even monetised unethically and irresponsibly. “We have introduced this regulation to protect children’s privacy data. Children’s privacy data is currently scattered across various social media platforms, and children do not yet know which data should or should not be shared,” said Meutya at the Ministry of Communication and Digital office in Central Jakarta on Friday evening. With the trend in this technology-driven era closely tied to social media, the protection of children in the digital space by various social media platforms has become increasingly critical. Digital platforms should no longer discriminate in their treatment regarding the protection of children in the digital space. Protection must be provided without regard to ethnicity, nation, religion, or other factors, as all children in the world have equal value. “Children in Asia are just as valuable as children in Europe; children wherever they are in the world, from any tribe, nation, or religion, have the same value,” said Meutya. Therefore, with the implementation of PP Tunas, effective from 28 March 2026, it is hoped that in the future, no more children will be harmed due to the lack of protection of their rights in the digital space. PP Tunas takes effect from 28 March 2026 and restricts children from high-risk digital platforms, particularly for its initial application to eight digital platforms: YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Instagram, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox. It is recorded that one day before the implementation of PP Tunas, precisely on 27 March 2026 at 21:30 WIB, only two digital platforms, X and Bigo Live, have full compliance with PP Tunas. Meanwhile, TikTok and Roblox are categorised as platforms that are partially cooperative with PP Tunas. The other four platforms, Facebook, Threads, Instagram, and YouTube, still do not meet the provisions of PP Tunas.