Implementation of PP Tunas: Safeguarding Children's Digital Security Without Stifling Freedom of Expression
Amid the government’s efforts to accelerate implementing rules derived from Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on Child Safety in Digital Spaces (PP Tunas), concerns regarding its impact on young people’s digital rights have begun to emerge. William, a communication practitioner and doctoral candidate in Communication Science at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), emphasises that this regulation must be an instrument of empowerment that supports child development, not merely a censorship tool that restricts their movement in the digital world.
William highlighted the risk of access blockades that could harm children’s and adolescents’ cognitive and social development if the policy is not implemented carefully through objective risk assessment.
“We must be vigilant against the protection paradox. The enthusiasm to protect children from negative content must not transform into a ‘digital prison’ that stifles children’s right to express themselves, seek information, and participate in healthy public spaces,” said William, an author and communication practitioner.
He explained that whilst PP Tunas comes with noble intentions to protect children from risks such as contact with strangers, exposure to inappropriate content, and addiction, the government must not fall into an overly restrictive approach. “The state must indeed ensure children are free from digital threats, but must not forget that children must also be ‘free to’ explore knowledge and build global networks through social media,” he added.
William also cautioned that if PP Tunas is implemented rigidly, it will prove counterproductive and threaten freedom of expression. “If we implement ‘hard blockade’ policies or mandate overly invasive identity verification on every platform, we create digital ghosts. Children will seek loopholes through VPNs or other illegal routes to stay connected. As a result, they end up outside the radar of official oversight and security systems that should protect them,” he asserted.
According to him, the risk assessment by the Ministry of Communication and Digital (KOMDIGI) must be based on objective, transparent criteria focused on protective outcomes, not merely judging specific features such as notifications or recommendation systems.
Based on analysis of the regulatory framework being developed, William offered several strategic recommendations, including the need for age verification at the operating system level (such as Google Play or Apple App Store) to protect children’s personal data privacy. He also emphasised that age restrictions on social media use are not the most effective solution when considering the need for digital services and efforts to improve Indonesia’s digital competitiveness at the global level.
“Children and adolescents are architects of the future who need global competitiveness. If they grow up in an overly restricted digital ecosystem, they will lose opportunities to build adequate digital literacy. PP Tunas must be positioned as a dynamic safety guide or manual, not a barrier wall that cuts off access to the benefits of the digital world. The role of parents and educational institutions needs to be strengthened in this regard,” concluded William.