Indonesia’s child protection policies gain US attention
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Heru, executive director of the Indonesia Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Institute, stated that representatives from the United States acknowledged Indonesia’s progress in online child protection during a meeting with Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid in Jakarta.
The US officials expressed interest in studying Indonesia’s methods, which prioritize a risk-based approach to regulating digital platforms. Indonesia distinguishes its policies by avoiding blanket restrictions and instead focusing on the level of risk each platform poses to children.
Heru explained that this allows the government to implement stricter rules for high-risk platforms while offering more flexibility to those with lower risk, enabling children to continue using technology for learning and communication. This approach also supports innovation in the digital space without sacrificing child safety. However, Heru cautioned that accurately assessing risk and ensuring platforms follow the rules are crucial for the system to succeed.
He also emphasized the importance of Indonesia continuing to learn from the United States, particularly in areas like technology and digital security. During the meeting, Joy Sakurai, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Jakarta, noted that US First Lady Melania Trump is pursuing a similar initiative. Sakurai specifically praised Indonesia’s use of tiered, age-based restrictions and safeguards as an alternative to complete bans on platforms.
