East Java Governor and PPPA Minister Launch 'Perisai Anak' Digital Child Protection Movement

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, together with Indonesian Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, launched the Child Protection Movement in the Digital Space (Perisai Anak) for East Java. The launch took place at the peak of the East Java Provincial National Children’s Day commemoration at Pintu Langit, Ledug, Pasuruan Regency, on Tuesday (28/7). The launch was marked by the bursting of balloons by Governor Khofifah and the PPPA Minister, accompanied by the Regional Secretary of East Java Province, the Deputy Regent of Pasuruan, the Secretary of the Directorate General of Digital Space Supervision at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, the Director of PPA and PPO of the East Java Regional Police, the Head of the East Java Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection and Population Office (DP3AK), and the Head of the East Java Communication and Informatics Office. This launch represents a tangible commitment by the East Java Provincial Government to strengthen child protection in the digital era through the Perisai Anak programme. Governor Khofifah stated that the Perisai Anak movement is a collaborative, cross-sector programme aimed at building a digital ecosystem that is safe, healthy, and child-friendly amidst rapid advances in information technology. According to Khofifah, the initiative was prompted by the increasing internet usage among children and adolescents in Indonesia, where over 235 million users have a penetration rate exceeding 81 per cent of the population. Generation Alpha and Generation Z are the most active users, presenting opportunities for education and creativity but also threats such as cyberbullying, exposure to negative content, online sexual exploitation, online gambling, and other digital crimes against children. ‘Perisai Anak is a preventive movement that prioritises education, regulatory strengthening, and collaboration among all stakeholders,’ she said. Khofifah stressed that protecting children in the digital space is not solely the government’s responsibility; the roles of families, schools, communities, businesses, media, and digital platforms are essential. The programme is built on five main pillars: strengthening regulation and governance; enhancing digital literacy and public awareness; providing responsive digital services for complaints and case handling; establishing inter-agency and community collaboration networks; and conducting continuous monitoring and evaluation. The legal basis for Perisai Anak includes national laws such as the Child Protection Law and the Information and Electronic Transactions Law, as well as East Java Regional Regulation No. 8 of 2025. Implementation will be reinforced through technical policies, including technical guidelines, standard operating procedures, team formation decrees, and circulars. Khofifah expressed optimism that these steps would create integrated child protection governance effectively applied across all regencies and cities in East Java. The programme focuses on three main approaches: prevention through digital literacy education for children, parents, teachers, and the community; handling through reporting mechanisms, victim assistance, and cross-institutional coordination; and collaboration through synergy between government, schools, universities, community organisations, businesses, media, and digital communities. A digital portal will be launched to provide information, educational materials, complaint services, and integrated child protection features. Minister Arifatul Choiri Fauzi stated that Perisai Anak represents a strong commitment to strengthening the child protection system, noting that such regional innovations are crucial for delivering accessible, responsive, and integrated services.