The Indonesian government has formalized its commitment to protecting children from digital risks through the enactment of Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 concerning the Governance of Electronic System Operations in Child Protection (PP TUNAS).

According to Fifi Aleyda Yahya, Director General of Public Communication and Media at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi), PP TUNAS is not merely a regulation, but a national policy foundation to ensure child safety in the digital world.

“We are pushing digital platforms to provide easy-to-use safety features, including age classification systems and parental controls. These are not just additional features, but the main instruments of child protection,” said Fifi during the “Building a Digital Family in the Streaming Era” event, held in collaboration between Netflix and ICT Watch in Central Jakarta, Tuesday (August 5, 2025).

New Regulation PP TUNAS Establishes Legal Foundation for Safer Digital Spaces

PP TUNAS requires every Electronic System Operator (ESO) to provide effective parental control features, set high privacy settings by default for child accounts, and prohibit location tracking and data profiling of children for commercial purposes.

Fifi explained that the government appreciates the steps taken by digital platforms that have proactively implemented child safety features, such as those introduced by Netflix.

Platforms Must Offer Parental Controls and High Privacy Settings for Child Accounts

Fifi stated that features like parental control and age classification give parents greater control and offer reassurance that children are exploring a safe digital environment.

“Features like parental control and age classification give parents greater control, while also providing peace of mind that children are navigating a safe digital space,” she said.

Government Praises Proactive Steps by Netflix and Other Tech Companies

PP TUNAS was introduced amid a surge in digital threats to Indonesian children. Data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) ranks Indonesia fourth globally in child pornography cases.

UNICEF reports that 89 percent of Indonesian children access the internet for an average of 5.4 hours daily, with nearly half exposed to sexual content.

“From the end of 2024 to mid-2025, Kemkomdigi handled more than 1.7 million online gambling content and nearly 500,000 pornographic content,” Fifi revealed.

Rising Digital Threats Spur Stronger Regulation, Education, and Collaboration

The government promotes a three-pillar approach: regulation, education, and collaboration.

Kemkomdigi, said Fifi, serves not only as a regulator but also as a driver of a safe and inclusive digital ecosystem, especially for the younger generation.

“Our children are growing up in a world where screens can be teachers, friends, and playgrounds. Therefore, platforms like Netflix are not just entertainment, but gateways to literacy, culture, and global interaction,” she said.

PHOTO: UNSPLASH

This article was created with AI assistance.