PKPA urges government to strengthen network infrastructure to support PP Tunas

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Yayasan Pusat Kajian dan Perlindungan Anak (PKPA) has urged the government to strengthen network infrastructure in the implementation of Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (PP Tunas).

“We hope the government does not only issue regulations but also prepares the system or ecosystem to support the implementation of those regulations,” said PKPA Executive Director Keumala Dewi when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.

“If the system is not prepared, children can still access them via VPN. That means the restrictions will be ineffective,” said Keumala Dewi.

According to her, the policy has the potential to create consequences for children’s access to information, services, and digital interaction spaces that have been part of their daily lives.

“What we are concerned about is the impact that arises, especially for children when they want to access services or information that was previously reachable through social media. When this access is restricted, it will seem like reducing, even amputating, their reach to information, relationships, and socialisation spaces,” said Keumala Dewi.

In addition, PKPA also asked the government to provide alternative safe and educational spaces and platforms for children, so that restrictions do not instead close off their access to information and interaction needs.

PP Tunas will take effect from 28 March 2026.

Digital platforms are not allowed to provide or accept requests for creating social media accounts from children under 16 years old.

Digital platforms must also block or deactivate high-risk digital accounts belonging to children under 16 years old.

The PP Tunas policy will be implemented gradually.

For the first phase, there are eight digital platforms that must block accounts belonging to children under 16 years old, namely YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (Twitter), Bigo Live, and Roblox.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital has issued Ministerial Regulation of Communication and Digital No. 9 of 2026 as the implementing regulation of PP Tunas.