Indonesian Parliament Urges Full Uncovering of Online Prostitution Network
A member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Widya Pratiwi, has praised the North Sumatra Regional Police (Polda North Sumatra) and the Medan Metropolitan Police (Polrestabes Medan) for their success in uncovering an online prostitution syndicate. The syndicate is alleged to have involved minors via digital applications.
She said the disclosure shows the seriousness of law enforcement in protecting children from the threats of sexual exploitation that are increasingly leveraging digital platforms. “This shows the seriousness of law enforcement in protecting children from digital-based sexual exploitation,” she said during a special working visit by Commission III to North Sumatra on Thursday, 21 May 2026.
Nevertheless, Commission III urged law enforcement not to stop at arresting perpetrators in the field, but also to trace the possibility of a broader network behind the practice. Widya emphasised the importance of pursuing parties suspected of facilitating online prostitution through digital platforms and other cyberspace spaces.
“Investigations into a larger network, including those who facilitate online prostitution via digital platforms, must be conducted seriously,” she said.
She also urged strengthening cyber space oversight and education for the public so that similar cases do not recur. She stated that child protection is not only the duty of law enforcement agencies but a shared responsibility of all elements of society.
“Digital space oversight and public education must be strengthened. Child protection is a shared responsibility,” Widya said.
Widya also highlighted the challenges of implementing the new KUHP and KUHAP within the regional justice system, particularly in North Sumatra. She stated that the nationwide application of KUHP and KUHAP requires law enforcement agencies to translate the new norms into everyday case-handling practices.
“The police and prosecutors, as crucial parts of the criminal justice system, are faced with the need to translate the new norms into practice on the ground,” she said.
She assessed that North Sumatra faces particular challenges due to high mobility and the complexity of cases that continue to evolve. “As a region with high mobility and a range of complex cases, the implementation of KUHP and KUHAP in North Sumatra requires special attention,” Widya said.
Widya emphasised that Commission III of the DPR RI will continue to monitor the implementation of KUHP and KUHAP in the region and will support law enforcement in facing various forms of new crimes that are developing in the digital era.