National Highlights: Alert Status One and Child Access to Digital Spaces
Three national news stories have drawn attention from Tempo readers concerning the TNI’s implementation of Alert Status One and the Child Protection Commission’s message regarding restrictions on children’s access to digital spaces. The first story relates to the rationale for implementing Alert Status One.
The TNI General Headquarters claims the alert status is intended to anticipate developments in the international, regional and national environment. This decision comes amid the war between Iran and Israel with support from the United States. The second story concerns a parliamentary statement that Alert Status One does not require approval from the House of Representatives. The third story relates to the Child Protection Commission’s message regarding children’s access to digital spaces, with the Commission stating that the government must enforce stricter oversight to ensure digital platforms comply with regulations on children’s online access.
Purpose of Alert Status One
The TNI General Headquarters stated that implementing Alert Status One for all defence units throughout Indonesia is intended to anticipate developments in the international, regional and national environment.
“Consequently, the TNI must maintain a high level of operational readiness, including conducting routine readiness verification assemblies,” said Brigadier General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, Head of the TNI General Headquarters Information Centre, when contacted on Saturday, 7 March 2026.
Aulia explained that according to the mandate in Law Number 3 of 2025 concerning the TNI, the primary duty of the TNI is to protect the entire nation and all Indonesian territory from threats and disturbances to national and state integrity.
As an implementation of this mandate, Aulia stated, the TNI must perform its duties professionally and responsively, which is realised through maintaining capacity and strength to ensure constant operational readiness.
Alert Status One Does Not Require Parliamentary Approval
A member of the House of Representatives’ Commission I, retired Major General TB Hasanuddin, stated that the Alert Status One implemented by TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto does not require approval from parliament. The TNI’s implementation of Alert Status One comes amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Hasanuddin emphasised that Alert Status One only concerns the readiness level of troops. “However, if this readiness is to be used for military operations during war (OMP) or military operations other than war (OMSP), approval from parliament is required in accordance with Law Number 3 of 2025,” Hasanuddin said in a written statement on Sunday, 8 March 2026.
Hasanuddin explained that Alert Status Three represents a still relatively normal condition. Under this status, unit activities proceed as usual without special troop concentration.
Child Protection Commission Message on Restricting Children’s Access to Digital Spaces
The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) stated that implementation of the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Regulation Number 9 of 2026 concerning the Governance of Electronic Systems Administration in Child Protection still requires strict oversight. KPAI Commissioner Kawiyan stated that there must be efforts from the government to ensure all digital platforms comply with these regulations.
According to Kawiyan, strict oversight is necessary because platforms possess the technical authority to deactivate accounts, block access or remove content in digital spaces.
“Essentially, this authority rests with the electronic system operators (PSE) or digital platforms themselves. Most of them are global companies,” he said in a written statement on Sunday, 8 March 2026.
For this reason, Kawiyan reminded the government that it must genuinely ensure strong oversight mechanisms, compliance and law enforcement against electronic system operators. Digital platforms, he said, also have obligations to verify age, restrict children’s access and respond quickly to any violations that could endanger children.
“There must not be a gap between excellent regulations and actual compliance levels from platforms,” Kawiyan said.