Speaking to reporters in Jakarta on Sunday, Komdigi Minister Meutya Hafid spoke of having signed a decree establishing a special team tasked with studying the plan to introduce age limits restricting children's access to social media platforms.
She noted that the team, which will begin its duty on Monday (Feb 3), comprises officials from various ministries, academicians, child education experts, psychological institutions, and child protection organizations, among others.
The team will focus its work on three objectives, including strengthening the government's surveillance and control over children's access to digital platforms, Hafid added.
Furthermore, the team will also work to raise children's and parents' awareness about the risks of using digital platforms and take firm action against those found spreading harmful items to kids in the digital space.
In devising the regulation, the minister underlined that she would coordinate with Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddim Umar, and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
"All ministers involved share the president's determination to accelerate the formulation of a regulation designed to protect children in the digital space," she affirmed.
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Hafid highlighted that the planned regulation is expected to be instrumental for the government in keeping Indonesian children away from pornographic items on the internet.
According to data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Indonesia ranks fourth in the world and second in Southeast Asia for the most pornographic cases involving children, with a total of 5,566,015 cases recorded over the past four years.
Meanwhile, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported in 2021 that 89 percent of children above the age of five utilize the internet for the sole purpose of accessing social media platforms.
Related news: Govt ends social media restrictions on Saturday
Translator: Pamela S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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