DPR Commission I States Ministerial Regulation on Child Social Media Restrictions Has Legal Basis in ITE Law
Deputy Chairman of DPR Commission I Dave Laksono stated that the Ministerial Regulation concerning restrictions on social media use by children under 16 years of age has legal foundation. Dave stated that the regulation has enforcement compliance basis regulated in the Information and Electronic Transaction Law, or ITE Law.
“Currently, the Ministerial Regulation already has legal foundation through the Information and Electronic Transaction Law (ITE Law), particularly Articles 40 and 41,” said Dave when contacted on Monday, 9 March 2026.
Dave stated that both articles can be used to enforce compliance with digital platforms that do not comply with regulations. He ensured that the Ministerial Regulation was already integrated with the ITE Law.
“Both articles can be used as the basis for compliance enforcement against digital platforms if they fail to fulfil established rules. With this legal foundation, the regulation does not stand alone, but is integrated within a stronger national legal framework, thereby providing legitimacy and certainty for its implementation,” he said.
Dave also discussed the application of the regulation in society. He stated that the success of this regulation is highly dependent on collaboration between the government, digital platforms, schools, and parents.
“The effectiveness of this policy will depend greatly on collaboration between the government, digital platform companies, schools, and parents. Massive socialisation must be conducted so that the public understands that this restriction is not merely a prohibition, but a form of protection,” he said.
Additionally, he stated that the government must also work with digital platforms in verifying the age of social media users. “Cooperation with digital platform companies is key to ensuring that the age verification mechanism and account deactivation actually function,” he added.
Previously, the Government through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) officially delayed access to a number of high-risk digital platforms for children under 16 years old.
The policy followed the issuance of a derivative regulation from Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning the Governance of Electronic System Operators in Child Protection, known as PP Tunas.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid stated that the derivative regulation began to be issued as a step to strengthen child protection in digital space.
“Today we are issuing a Ministerial Regulation as a derivative of PP Tunas. Through this regulation, the government delays account access for children under 16 years old on high-risk digital platforms, including social media and networking services,” said Meutya in her statement on Friday, 6 March.