Yazılar

Indonesia Set to Enforce Social Media Curbs for Under-16s

/in /tarafından

Indonesia is preparing to implement new restrictions on social media use for users under 16, but uncertainty remains over how the rules will be enforced.

The regulation targets platforms deemed “high-risk,” including Roblox, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube, TikTok and X. These services may be required to deactivate accounts belonging to underage users or restrict access based on risk criteria such as exposure to strangers, addictive algorithms and psychological harm.

Officials say the policy is designed to reduce cyberbullying and digital addiction among children. However, key implementation details—such as verification systems and enforcement mechanisms—remain unclear just as the rules are set to take effect.

Authorities indicated that account deactivations will begin gradually, with some platforms already outlining initial compliance steps. Roblox, for example, is expected to introduce stricter controls for younger users, while TikTok and X have signaled readiness to enforce minimum age requirements.

Despite these measures, experts question the effectiveness of the policy, noting that enforcement could be technically complex and that children may still find ways to bypass restrictions.

The move reflects a broader global trend of tightening social media regulations for minors, as governments respond to increasing concerns over mental health, online safety and platform design.

Indonesia temporarily blocks access to Grok over sexualised images

/in /tarafından

Indonesia has temporarily blocked access to Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI, citing concerns over the risk of AI-generated pornographic and sexualised content. The decision makes Indonesia the first country to formally deny access to the tool.

The move comes amid growing international backlash, with governments and regulators across Europe and Asia condemning Grok over its role in generating and spreading sexualised images online, including non-consensual content.

xAI said on Thursday that it had begun restricting Grok’s image generation and editing features to paying subscribers, after safeguard failures allowed the production of sexualised outputs, including depictions involving minors. The company said the changes were part of efforts to tighten controls and prevent misuse.

Indonesia’s Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said the government viewed non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights and digital safety.
“The government views the practice of non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and the security of citizens in the digital space,” Hafid said in a statement.

The ministry has also summoned officials from X, where Grok is embedded, to discuss the issue and clarify what measures are being taken to prevent further abuse.

Elon Musk said on X that anyone using Grok to create illegal content would face the same consequences as users who upload such material directly. When contacted by Reuters, xAI responded with what appeared to be an automated message stating, “Legacy Media Lies.” X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, enforces strict laws banning the online distribution of content deemed obscene. Authorities said the temporary block would remain in place while regulators assess compliance and safeguards surrounding the AI tool.

Indonesia Suspends TikTok’s Operating Registration Over Data-Sharing Failures

/in /tarafından

Indonesia has suspended TikTok’s registration as an electronic systems provider after the company allegedly failed to hand over full data related to its live-streaming feature, according to a statement from the country’s communications and digital ministry on Friday.

The move technically gives authorities the power to restrict access to TikTok—used by over 100 million Indonesians—but as of Friday, Reuters reporters were still able to access the app normally. Officials have not yet clarified whether the suspension will lead to an outright block.

Ministry official Alexander Sabar said the suspension followed concerns that accounts linked to online gambling exploited TikTok’s live-streaming tool during recent national protests, which erupted over lawmakers’ allowances and police brutality from late August through September. TikTok had temporarily suspended its live feature during the unrest, saying it aimed to “keep TikTok a safe and civil space.”

According to Sabar, the government requested TikTok’s traffic, streaming, and monetization data, but the company, owned by China’s ByteDance, did not fully comply, citing internal company procedures. “The communications and digital ministry deemed TikTok to have violated its obligations as a private electronic provider,” Sabar said, explaining that the platform’s registration was therefore suspended.

Under Indonesian law, all registered digital service providers must share certain operational data with the government for oversight purposes or risk being blocked.

In response, a TikTok spokesperson stated that the company respects local laws and is working with authorities to resolve the issue.

The dispute highlights Indonesia’s tightening regulatory scrutiny over global tech platforms, following a broader regional trend toward data sovereignty—governments demanding access to digital companies’ data as a condition for market operation.