Jakarta, indonesia, 2025-06-19 19:02:00
Indonesia Steps Up Child Online Safety
Indonesia is rolling out a new regulation to protect children online. The regulation targets a wide range of digital platforms.
- The new rules apply to various online platforms, including social media and gaming sites.
- Platforms must assess risks and implement age verification and parental controls.
- The regulation includes specific consent rules based on children’s ages.
The Indonesian goverment is taking action to safeguard children in the digital world with the introduction of Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 (GR 17/2025). This regulation establishes a governance framework for Electronic System Operators (ESOs) to ensure online safety for anyone under 18 years old, also known as Children. The primary focus is to ensure children’s online safety by addressing potential risks such as exposure to harmful content or interactions with unknown individuals.
Scope of the New Rules
GR 17/2025 casts a wide net, applying to both public and private ESOs. This includes entities developing or operating internet-connected “Products,” encompassing websites, digital platforms, and IoT-enabled devices. These products are subject to the regulation if they are designed specifically for children or could be accessed by children based on certain indicators.
Who is affected? GR 17/2025 impacts a wide range of entities, from social media platforms to IoT device manufacturers. If your product can be used by children, this regulation likely applies to you.
The definition of ESOs is broad, encompassing individuals, state administrators, buisness entities, and communities involved in providing, managing, or operating electronic systems. Many parties will likely be subject to GR 17/2025 given this broad scope. The intention is to ensure comprehensive protection for children navigating the online sphere.
Age Verification and parental Controls
A key aspect of the regulation focuses on how ESOs handle children’s data and online experiences. ESOs must implement a minimum age limit for their Products, with age ranges set at: 3 to 5 years old, 6 to 9 years old, 10 to 12 years old, 13 to 15 years old, and 16 to under 18 years old.Additionally, ESOs must implement technological and operational measures to verify the age of children and ensure compliance with age limits.
Age Range Requirements: ESOs must categorize users into specific age brackets (3-5, 6-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18) and tailor online experiences accordingly. This includes content filtering and privacy settings.
Who is considered a child?
GR 17/2025 defines Children as anyone under 18 years of age. though, different age thresholds for children are recognized under Indonesian law. For example, the Indonesian Civil Code states that individuals who either have reached the age of 21 or are married are considered adults.
Consent and Privacy Regulations
The regulation also dictates specific consent requirements. For children under 17, ESOs must obtain parental opt-in consent, allowing a 24-hour window for parents or guardians to provide consent. For those 17 and older, consent can be requested directly, but an opt-out notification must be sent to parents, allowing a 6-hour window for objections. ESOs must also provide effective technological and operational measures that allow parents to monitor their Children’s use of Products.
Consent Timeframes: Be aware of the strict consent windows. Parents of children under 17 have 24 hours to opt-in, while parents of 17-year-olds have 6 hours to object to consent.
ESOs must also configure settings to a high privacy level by default for products specifically designed for or potentially used by children. Profiling children is prohibited unless it’s demonstrably in their best interests.
Transparency and Sanctions
ESOs must provide facts in the Indonesian language in an understandable format. This includes details on age limits, usage guidelines, and community standards. Furthermore, ESOs must engage in initiatives that promote children’s rights and report these efforts to the Ministry of communications and Digital Affairs (MOCD) annually.
The MOCD will oversee compliance with GR 17/2025, with potential sanctions including warnings, fines, temporary suspensions, and access termination. The MOCD may also publish administrative sanctions on its website.
ESOs and other relevant parties have two years from the enactment date of GR 17/2025 to comply with the regulation, ie until 27 March 2027. They should therefore proactively begin aligning their operations to ensure full compliance by the time this transitional period ends.
Compliance Deadline: Don’t wait! ESOs have until March 27, 2027, to fully comply with GR 17/2025. Start assessing your systems and implementing necessary changes now.
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The Impact on Digital Platforms
The implementation of GR 17/2025 by indonesia will bring significant changes to the digital landscape. With the online safety of children as a primary objective, ESOs must carefully consider the implications of these new guidelines. This includes everything from content moderation practices to data privacy protocols.
Social media platforms, gaming sites, and online marketplaces are among the most affected. The regulation mandates that these platforms adjust their operations to cater to various age brackets, as described earlier. This will require modifications to content filtering, parental control settings, and age verification processes. Moreover, the creation of child-friendly online environments will be a priority.
Content Filtering and Moderation
A core aspect of the new regulation is how ESOs will manage content. Platforms must actively screen for age-inappropriate or harmful material. This ensures that content meets the standards set for each age group within the specified brackets (3-5, 6-9, 10-12, 13-15, 16-18). Indonesia aims to create a safer digital space for children.
Content moderation teams will likely need to be trained on specific regional guidelines. Moreover, automated moderation technologies, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), may also play a more significant role. These are the tools to help scan and flag inappropriate content. However, human moderators will also be needed to evaluate flagged content.
Data Privacy and Security
Data privacy and security measures are another area of emphasis under GR 17/2025. ESOs must be transparent about data practices, adhering to the userS age and the need for parental approval when necessary. For example, parental consent is necessary before collecting any data from children under 17 years old. It will also limit the processing of children’s data to essential operations.
ESOs will be responsible for securing children’s data using high-level encryption. This is particularly vital because online platforms can become targets of cyberattacks. The new rule ensures the protection of personal information.
Additional Considerations for ESOs: ESOs need to adopt secure data handling practices. Moreover,developing a clear and understandable privacy policy for children is critical.
Potential Challenges and Opportunities
While GR 17/2025 provides many benefits, it is vital to address any potential difficulties. ESOs may face the challenge of accurately verifying the age of children. They may have to invest in solutions that verify the user’s age. Moreover, they also have to navigate the complexities of implementing parental controls.
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