This issue is evident in the high number of child exploitation cases linked to online pornographic content, where perpetrators use technology to groom and manipulate minors.
Online child sexual exploitation refers to any form of abuse involving minors in sexual activities, either directly or indirectly, facilitated by the Internet. Perpetrators or third parties often profit from such activities, exacerbating the problem.
From May to November 2024, investigators from the National Police's (Polri's) Cyber Crime Directorate arrested 58 suspects in connection with online child pornography crimes.
Between May and November 2024, investigators from the National Police’s (Polri) Cyber Crime Directorate arrested 58 suspects involved in online child pornography crimes.
These suspects were linked to 47 cases of child pornography.
In early 2025, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police succeeded in uncovering a case of child pornography content being sold online.
As many as 689 videos and pictures related to children were secured.
The perpetrator, identified as RYS, 29, sold the pornographic content through the messaging application Telegram.
He offered subscription packages at rates starting from Rp10 thousand (around US$0.61) to Rp15 thousand (around US$0.92) for three months to consumers.
Some of the videos showed exploitation of children under the age of 18.
Director of the cyber unit of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Senior Commissioner Roberto Pasaribu, emphasized that anonymity in the digital world poses a significant challenge in uncovering child pornography cases.
Therefore, Polri will continue to strengthen synergy with other agencies and institutions, including the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), and non-governmental organizations, to eradicate child pornography.
The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection has praised the detection of child pornography cases as this can help prevent the further spread of such content.
Deputy for child protection at the ministry, Nahar, stressed the importance of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law in addressing such crimes.
He also highlighted the crucial role of families in preventing child pornography and exploitation.
In this regard, right and appropriate sexual education of children is considered essential.
This is important to improve awareness about the risks of pornography and its negative impact on children.
Parents are being asked to communicate openly with children regarding pornography.
They are also being encouraged to pay attention to their children, strictly monitor their activities online, and frequently give them compliments.
"We must ensure that our children are safe from these threats because the impact is long-term," he said.
The Indonesian government, through the SAPA 129 call center, is providing support and assistance, both emotional and professional, to child victims of such exploitation.
Child protection in digital space
The government is continuing to accelerate the preparation of the Presidential Regulation on the Road Map for Child Online Protection. Currently, the draft of the regulation is still in the harmonization stage.
The regulation is a form of the state's presence to protect children who are highly vulnerable to falling victim to violence in the digital space.
This is important because the spread of child pornography content can have a negative impact on children's development, both physical and psychological.
“We need to be aware of the dangers of online gaming addiction, pornography, and other forms of technological misuse that can harm children's cognitive and emotional development,” Nahar warned.
From January to December 2024, the Online Information System for the Protection of Women and Children (Simfoni PPA) recorded 11,770 cases of child sexual violence out of 19,626 cases related to children.
The number of child exploitation cases reached 279, while the number of cases involving physical and psychological violence stood at 4,889 and 5,837, respectively.
KPAI Chairperson Ai Maryati Solihah emphasized the importance of blocking illegal content and taking strict legal action against those involved, including suppliers and content distributors.
“This is a major challenge for our generation. Digital footprints are permanent and can affect a child's future, even as they grow into adults and leaders of the nation,” she stated.
The KPAI has also emphasized the need for rehabilitation of child victims who are exploited because psychological recovery is very important to help them recover from trauma.
It is also necessary to improve the digital literacy of all people to ensure adequate protection and understanding in protecting children online.
As part of efforts to protect children, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is currently planning to impose age restrictions on social media access.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, has signed a decree to establish a special team tasked with reviewing such restrictions, along with other regulations aimed at protecting children in the digital space.
Hafid stressed the critical importance of expediting the formulation of the regulation to safeguard children from potential threats in the digital space.
She also highlighted that the Indonesian government is prioritizing child protection in the digital sphere to mitigate the risks children face in the ever-evolving online landscape.
With comprehensive and collaborative handling, it is expected that cases of sexual exploitation against children can be reduced or even eliminated.
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Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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