Indonesia Summons Google and Meta Over Non-Compliance with Under-16 Social Media Ban

Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Meutya Hafid, announced that the government has issued summonses to Meta and Google for not adhering to the country's new regulation prohibiting social media access for users under 16. The ban, which took effect on March 28, 2026, aims to protect minors from online threats such as pornography, cyberbullying, and internet addiction.

In a video statement released on Monday, Hafid stated that the summonses were issued "as part of the application of administrative sanctions in accordance with the applicable provisions." She accused Google and Meta of opposing the new regulations "from the very beginning."

The minister also noted that while platforms like TikTok and Roblox are not yet fully compliant, they are "making efforts" to adhere to the regulations and will receive warning letters. Hafid emphasized the government's commitment to enforcing the ban, stating there would be "no room for compromise regarding compliance."

Indonesia, with a population exceeding 284 million, has one of the highest numbers of social media users globally, including approximately 70 million children under 16. Hafid acknowledged the challenges in implementing the ban, noting that "Indonesia is indeed one of the most active countries in the digital space, with average scrolling time of 7–8 hours per day."

She urged parents and children to assist the government in monitoring compliance and reporting companies that violate the law.