Government Issues AI Guidelines in Education; Digital Communications Minister: Child Protection

Minister of Digital Communications (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid has outlined guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI) in education to ensure technology is used by children only when they are prepared to do so. She stressed that children must be protected.

“Fundamentally, every technological advance, as mentioned by the Coordinating Minister (Pratikno), must be examined for its readiness and user suitability, particularly for children. So wait until children are ready,” Meutya said following the signing of the AI guidelines joint decision at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) in Central Jakarta, Thursday (12 March 2026).

Meutya noted that beyond PP Tunas, which regulates social media use for children, there is also a need for regulations governing AI use in educational settings. She reiterated the necessity of preparing children to engage with existing technologies.

“It is not only applicable to PP Tunas, which has been issued by the Digital Communications Ministry regarding social media, but today we are also looking at how to establish age categories for the use and application of AI in the field of education. Because once again, all types of technology must be examined for children’s readiness,” she said.

Meutya then highlighted that Indonesia’s children rank amongst the top five internet users globally. This, she said, requires the government to protect them.

“Indonesia is amongst the world’s largest internet users with approximately 220 million people connected, and among these, child users are also amongst the largest in the world—or the fifth largest number of child internet users globally in Indonesia. Therefore, we must protect this large number of children,” she said.

On the same occasion, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno expressed hope that with the issuance of this joint decision, the use of AI for children’s education in Indonesia would be improved and more prudent. He stated that the decision determines at what age children are permitted to use AI.

“This differs between early childhood through to higher education. As you progress upwards, the assumption is that there is greater readiness, and therefore it is less strictly controlled. But at lower levels, it is more controlled. Not only controlled in terms of duration, but also controlled in terms of content,” said Pratikno.

Previously, seven ministers signed a joint decision containing guidelines for the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in formal, non-formal, and informal educational pathways. The signing was led by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno.

The signing took place at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture in Central Jakarta, Thursday (12 March). The seven ministers who signed the joint decision were: Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister of Digital Communications Meutya Hafid, Minister of Education and Culture Abdul Mu’ti, Minister of Education, Technology and Science Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi, and Minister of Public Works and Housing Wihaji.