Jakarta Information Commission states transparency now prioritises child protection
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Jakarta Provincial Information Commission (KI) Harry Ara Hutabarat stated that transparency is no longer interpreted as absolute openness, but must consider child protection aspects in a more specific and measurable manner.
“What needs to be understood is that this is not about closing information, but delaying access for children who are not yet ready,” said Harry in Jakarta on Thursday, while attending a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) titled The Role of Communication Scholars in Overseeing the Implementation of PP TUNAS, organised by the Directorate of Communication Partnerships for Institutions and Public Relations.
Harry appreciated the role of the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) and the Indonesian Communication Scholars Association (ISKI) in overseeing the implementation of Government Regulation (PP) Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Providers in Child Protection (PP TUNAS).
According to Harry, this forum is a concrete step in realising one of the main objectives of Law Number 14 of 2008 on Public Information Disclosure (UU KIP), particularly in encouraging active public participation in strategic public policies.
He assessed that the implementation of PP TUNAS marks a paradigm shift in the practice of information openness. Transparency is no longer interpreted as absolute openness, but must consider child protection aspects in a more specific and measurable way.
PP TUNAS, he said, is not an effort to limit children’s access to information, but a form of regulation aimed at protecting children from exposure to high-risk content on digital platforms.
“Many digital platforms have the potential to ensnare children and lead them to face legal consequences if not properly regulated,” he stated.
In that context, KI DKI also highlighted the importance of strengthening age verification systems on digital platforms, particularly for services that can only be accessed by citizens who have official identification such as the Identity Card (KTP).
Furthermore, Harry emphasised that the spirit of information openness must continue alongside the protection of vulnerable groups, including children, amid the rapid development of digital technology.
“There is never a word too late to improve public information governance. Transparency must be adaptive, and currently, prioritising child protection is a necessity,” he added.
According to Harry, the implementation of PP Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Providers in Child Protection serves as an important marker that information openness can no longer be interpreted as openness without limits.
“The state is now faced with a major dilemma: how far information can be opened without sacrificing child protection. This is no longer just about transparency, but also about responsibility,” said Harry.