Parliamentary Leadership: Digital Space Must Have Adequate Protection Systems
Jakarta – Lestari Moerdijat, Deputy Chair of the Indonesian Parliament (MPR), has stated that the development of the digital world must be balanced with adequate protection systems for all citizens, including women and children, against the accompanying threats.
“Digital development does not merely come with technology that facilitates human activities. On the other hand, digitalisation also presents threats to women and children, requiring appropriate protection systems,” said Lestari in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.
The Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) revealed that 9 out of 10 children aged 5 and above in Indonesia are already actively using the internet, which affects their growth and development.
According to KPPPA records, digital transformation has changed how women and children learn, work, and interact within society.
Lestari believes that the rapid penetration of digital spaces in people’s lives must be promptly matched with concrete protective measures.
The Commission X member of the Indonesian House of Representatives stated that the various rules and protection policies in the online sphere that have been established must receive serious attention from all relevant parties regarding their implementation.
She noted that Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 concerning the Management of Electronic System Implementation in Child Protection (PP Tunas), which takes effect in March 2026, must be able to be applied effectively as part of efforts to create an adequate protection system in digital spaces for the next generation.
Lestari acknowledged that the impact of violence in digital spaces is very real for society, including for women and children. The impacts include damaging reputation, destroying mental health, disrupting education, and threatening the physical safety of victims.
These threats must be addressed collectively by all stakeholders and the public, through increased digital literacy and understanding of adequate protection policies in digital spaces.
Safe digital spaces that can accelerate development processes effectively must be realised as part of efforts to nurture the next generation of the nation with competitive advantage in the future.