JAKARTA: (Bernama) Indonesia has issued a formal warning to Google over YouTube’s failure to comply with new child protection regulations, particularly in restricting access for users under 16.
Communication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid said the written warning followed an inspection that found YouTube had yet to meet its obligations under the regulation.
"Based on the inspection by the Director General of Digital Space Supervision on April 7, YouTube has not fulfilled its compliance obligations and has not or has yet to state good faith to follow the applicable law in the near future,” she said at a press conference here on Thursday (April 9).
She added that the government could no longer tolerate the situation, prompting a shift from supervision to enforcement action.
Meutya said the action was taken under the government regulation on child protection in the digital space (PP Tunas), which requires platforms to restrict access for users under 16 and strengthen safeguards.
She said sanctions are applied progressively under the framework, ranging from written warnings to temporary suspension and eventual termination of access.
"Sanctions are imposed in stages, while still expecting a change in attitude from Google, and today we have issued a warning letter,” she said.
On March 28, Indonesia began implementing a new regulation banning children under 16 from accessing digital platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, Bigo Live, YouTube, TikTok and Roblox, as part of efforts to strengthen child protection online against risks such as pornography, cyberbullying, scams and addiction.
As of Thursday, three platform owners - Meta, which oversees Facebook, Instagram and Threads; X; and Bigo Live - have fully complied with the regulation by enforcing restrictions on users under 16.
Meanwhile, TikTok and Roblox are categorised as partially compliant and have been given until April 10 to submit their action plans after requesting additional time to meet the requirements.
YouTube remains the only platform among the eight yet to comply or demonstrate good faith in restricting access for users under 16.
The government has also given other electronic system operators (PSEs) outside the initial eight platforms three months to conduct independent risk assessments and submit implementation plans. - Bernamaas, Indonesia, Google, Meta
