Indonesia to enforce child online safety rule in March 2026

Indonesia will enforce a sweeping regulation to protect children online starting in March 2026, Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said on Friday, urging digital platforms to prepare for full compliance.

The rule, Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025, or PP Tunas, sets governance standards for electronic systems to strengthen child protection in digital spaces, and is in its final approval stage after legal harmonization at the Ministry of Law, she said in Jakarta.

Meutya said implementing regulations are being finalized at the Ministry of Communications and Digital and are expected to be signed within days, enabling the policy to take effect as scheduled in March 2026.

She called on digital platforms to adjust their operations, saying the government had announced the plan early to give industry players sufficient time to comply and ensure effective implementation.

The regulation aims to curb online risks to minors, including abuse, exploitation, and harmful content, and may include limits on social media access to enhance safety and accountability.

Meutya rejected industry concerns that the policy could hamper innovation or the digital economy, saying economic impact cannot justify compromising child protection.

“There is no innovation and no digital economy that targets crimes against children,” she said, adding that similar rules have been adopted in Australia and across Europe.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest digital market, has intensified regulatory oversight as online activity surges, seeking to balance rapid growth with stronger safeguards for children and broader public protection.

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Translator: Farhan Arda Nugraha, Martha Herlinawati Simanjunta