Indonesia Highlights Child Protection in Digital Transformation at WSIS 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has underscored child protection as a vital element in building a safe digital ecosystem.

As Indonesia’s digital economy grows, projected to reach USD 300 billion by 2030, the government stressed the importance of ensuring secure online spaces for children alongside expanded access and technological advancement.

This commitment was conveyed by Communication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid at the 2026 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, July 10, 2026, as quoted by infopublik.id.

Indonesia urged the global community to strengthen cooperation to narrow the digital divide and build a safe, inclusive, and sustainable digital ecosystem.

Minister Meutya emphasized that the WSIS Action Lines serve as crucial guidelines to ensure that digital technology benefits all members of society.

“Digital technology must be utilized to bridge development gaps, expand equitable access to public services, and empower communities, with the principle of leaving no one behind,” she said.

As a concrete implementation of WSIS Action Line C5 on building trust and security in information and communication technology (ICT), Indonesia introduced a child protection policy in the digital space through Government Regulation No. 17/2025 on the Governance of Electronic System Implementation in Child Protection (PP Tunas).

The regulation, which came into effect in March 2026, requires electronic system providers to implement age verification, content classification, and account access restrictions for children under 16 on high-risk platforms.

Indonesia also showcased the vast potential of its digital economy, currently valued at around USD 100 billion, or one-third of ASEAN’s total, and projected to triple by 2030.

This growth is supported by major infrastructure projects, including the Satria-1 Satellite, the Palapa Ring, and the expansion of the 5G network to more than 17,000 islands.

The government stressed, however, that connectivity must be balanced with user protection, particularly for children.

In addition to child protection, Indonesia highlighted the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), calling for human-centered AI that is ethical, transparent, respects human rights, and preserves cultural and linguistic diversity.

Concluding its presentation at the WSIS Summit, Indonesia called for stronger global collaboration to support digital transformation in developing countries through capacity building, technology transfer, sustainable funding for public digital infrastructure, regulatory harmonization, and greater participation in global digital governance. ***