Indonesia probes Meta and Google over alleged child protection breaches, seeks documents within three days
Indonesian regulators have formally examined Meta and Google over alleged failures to protect users, particularly minors, under new digital governance rules.
- Indonesian authorities questioned Meta and Google over alleged breaches of child protection obligations.
- Both companies must submit supporting documents within three days following formal examinations.
- Regulators are assessing compliance under new laws targeting high-risk digital platforms.
The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has conducted formal examinations of two of the world’s largest digital platforms, Meta Platforms and Google, over alleged violations of user protection obligations under national laws and regulations.
The examinations were carried out at the Ministry’s office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.
Both companies complied with government summonses to provide clarification.
Meta completed its session and signed the official record of proceedings, while Google responded to a second summons and underwent examination on the same day.
Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Oversight, stated that officials posed 29 questions to each company as part of efforts to investigate potential breaches, particularly in relation to obligations to safeguard users in the digital environment.
He confirmed that the findings would be subject to further analysis.
The Ministry described the process as part of its ongoing regulatory oversight and administrative enforcement to ensure that digital platforms operating in Indonesia adhere to legal requirements.
Document Submission Deadline
Following the examinations, both companies have been instructed to submit supporting documentation within three days.
The request forms part of a follow-up process focusing on alleged violations of child protection regulations in the digital sphere.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said the process had entered an advanced stage, with authorities now seeking documentary evidence to support compliance claims.
“This is the three-day period for document completion. They need to provide the documents following yesterday’s examination results,” she said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, 8 April.
The Ministry is assessing compliance with Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Operations for Child Protection, widely referred to as PP Tunas. The regulation establishes obligations for digital platforms to ensure the safety of minors online.
Focus on High-Risk Platforms
Authorities have also highlighted Ministerial Regulation No. 9 of 2026, which serves as an implementing rule of PP Tunas.
Under this framework, several services operated by Meta—including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads—as well as YouTube, owned by Google, are classified as high-risk platforms.
This designation places additional responsibilities on the companies, including measures to restrict access for children and adolescents.
Officials indicated that the requested documentation will be used to assess whether these obligations are being met in practice.
Previous examination sessions were conducted separately, with Meta questioned on Monday, 6 April, and Google on Tuesday, 7 April.
Each session included the same set of 29 questions aimed at examining potential regulatory breaches.
Commitments and Further Action
Alexander Sabar also disclosed that both companies had indicated commitments related to implementing restrictions on social media access for users under the age of 16. However, no further details were provided regarding the scope or timeline of these measures.
The Ministry stated that the examination process is being conducted carefully to ensure compliance with administrative procedures while maintaining a clear legal basis for enforcement actions.
In parallel, warning letters have been issued to other platforms, including TikTok and Roblox, urging them to demonstrate compliance with existing commitments. Authorities indicated that failure to show significant progress could result in summonses and formal examinations similar to those faced by Meta and Google.
Awaiting Outcome
The Ministry is currently awaiting the submission of documents from both companies.
Officials stated that the responses will determine whether the matter is resolved through administrative compliance or proceeds to further enforcement stages under Indonesian law.
The government reiterated that compliance with user protection requirements remains a central priority, given the influence of digital platforms on public interaction and the information ecosystem.
