Heaptalk, Jakarta — Meta met with Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), Meutya Hafid, in Jakarta to discuss digital regulations that could significantly impact the country’s youth.
In a press statement released Tuesday, Simon Milner, Vice President of Public Policy for Asia-Pacific at Meta, expressed the company’s stance on the proposed regulations. “Meta supports regulations aimed at ensuring the safety of teenagers online. However, restricting access to technology for millions of young people in Indonesia is not the right solution,” he stated.
Milner emphasized the importance of proper consultation and transparency in developing new regulations. He appreciated yesterday’s meeting with the Minister of Communication and Informatics. However, he regrets that the government has not released the draft regulations publicly. He also urges the government to share the draft with relevant stakeholders and conduct transparent public consultations, allowing parents, civil society organizations, and industry players to provide their input.
He further highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to digital ecosystem safety. “We believe online safety regulations should encompass a holistic digital ecosystem approach. Age verification on app stores and operating systems is the most effective way to support parents and ensure the safety of young users in the digital world. Meta is committed to protecting young users, and we are not waiting for regulations to act. We have already implemented various safety features and age-appropriate experiences for young users on our platforms, such as Teen Accounts on Instagram, which we have launched in Indonesia,” Milner explained.
Milner noted that Meta recently introduced a digitally-based teen account feature. This account has built-in protections that automatically limit who can connect with teens and the type of content they can view. Teens under the age of 16 require parental permission to change these settings. The meeting underscores Meta’s ongoing efforts to collaborate with governments and stakeholders to create a safer digital environment for young users while advocating for balanced and transparent regulatory frameworks.
