MUI Responds to Restrictions on Children's Access in the Digital Space
Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) welcomed the government’s policy on restricting children’s access in the digital space, as set out in Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2026. The rule forms part of Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the governance of electronic system operations in the protection of children. Under the regulation, the government will limit access for children under 16 to a number of digital platforms, with phased implementation planned to begin on 28 March 2026.
MUI’s Commission on Women, Youth and Family (PRK) chair Siti Ma’rifah said the policy marks a shared hope to protect children in the digital era. ‘KPRK MUI welcomes it and it is our shared hope because this will strengthen protection for our children in the digital space. This policy can protect our children,’ Siti Ma’rifah told MUI Digital in Jakarta on Saturday, 7 March 2026.
She noted the measure is necessary given that children are increasingly vulnerable to online threats ranging from pornography, cyberbullying, online scams, to technology addiction. The daughter of the 13th vice president described the situation as a digital emergency requiring a clear response through policy. ‘Technology should help humanise people, not damage childhood development. Therefore, the access restriction is seen as a way for parents to monitor the use of technology by children,’ she said.
She added that the regulation is expected to protect children from negative content, including online exploitation, without omitting their rights to express themselves, communicate, and access information in line with their age and developmental stage.
‘We must ensure that this regulation truly serves the best interests and rights of the child, not merely restricting but protecting them from risks in the digital world while preserving their rights to express themselves and learn,’ Siti said.
MUI views that high levels of child involvement in the digital world must be balanced with strong regulation. Citing data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in the 2024 Indonesia Child Profiling, children make up about 28.65 percent of the population, around 79.8 million people.
Data from the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII) in 2024 show that Internet penetration among Generation Z (born 1997-2012) reached 87.02 percent. In some lagging regions, first Internet use occurs around ages 13–14, with the highest usage on social media.
Separately, a 2024 report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shows Indonesia ranks fourth globally for online child pornography cases in the last four years.
Siti said the situation is a serious alarm for all parties to strengthen child protection in the digital space, including with firm enforcement against online wrongdoing.
‘KPRK MUI stands ready to oversee the implementation of regulations related to child protection together with all stakeholders to realise Indonesia’s golden generation with a healthy body and mind,’ she added.