Recently, the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo), under the leadership of Minister Arie Budi Setiadi, was urged to implement stricter regulations on online games that contain violent and sexual content. This call came from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), triggering a quick response from the ministry.
Urgency of Action
KPAI has expressed concerns about the negative impact of violent and sexual content in online games on Indonesian youth. Their request to the Ministry of Communication and Information emphasizes the urgent need for a safer digital environment that supports healthy child development. Responding to these concerns, Minister Arie assured the Ministry’s readiness to block or take down any games found to violate the country’s strict anti-pornography laws.
Minister Arie’s Proactive Steps
Minister Arie has highlighted the proactive steps his team is taking: “I have ordered the Kominfo team to immediately analyze games suspected of containing pornography, including popular titles such as Free Fire. “If it is proven, we will immediately take down the game,” he stressed in a recent interview.
In addition, Minister Arie invited the public to actively participate by reporting any games they suspect contain inappropriate content via the aduankonten.id portal, where they can send screenshots as evidence.
New Regulations Enacted
To further combat this problem, Minister Arie introduced Ministerial Regulation no. 2 of 2024, which requires gaming platforms to implement age verification mechanisms, age restrictions, and abuse or violation reporting systems in accordance with the Child Protection provisions in the ITE Law.
Explanation by Director General Usman Kansong
Usman Kansong, Director General of Information and Public Communication at Kominfo, explained the details of the new regulations. It stipulates that game publishers must carry out independent classification based on age groups such as 3+, 7+, 13+, 15+, and 18+. He explained, “For the 13+ and 15+ age groups, depictions of violence should be limited to animated forms and should not be repetitive or involve hatred, anger, or weapons that resemble real weapons.”
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Enforcement and Community Participation
Usman also emphasized the role of independent classification by publishers, which will be assessed by an appointed games classification board. Any violations identified by the board may lead to administrative sanctions, including termination of access. He encouraged the public to report any discrepancies they observe in game classifications to improve compliance and enforcement.
“Self-classification by publishers is very important. “If a game fails to classify itself by age group, or if the classification does not comply with the Ministry’s regulations, the game may face administrative sanctions, including termination of access,” explained Usman.
Conclusion
The Ministry of Communication and Information’s firm steps towards online games with inappropriate content are a significant step towards protecting Indonesia’s young generation from the bad effects of violent and sexual content. By empowering the public to report violations and implementing strict regulations on game publishers, Kominfo is establishing a strong framework to ensure a safe and supportive digital environment for children. This comprehensive approach not only supports child development but is also in line with global standards for digital safety and child protection.
Through this action, the Indonesian government reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the digital landscape as a safe space for all users, especially children, thereby encouraging a healthier and more regulated online gaming environment.