Indonesia Inspects Meta Platforms’ Office over Misinformation Spread

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is increasing pressure on global technology companies after finding that they are inadequately handling problematic content on several digital platforms.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs conducted an unannounced inspection of Meta Platforms’ operational office in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

The inspection was led by Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid in response to the proliferation of online gambling, disinformation, false accusations, and hate speech (DFK) on the company’s services, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Government monitoring data shows that Meta’s compliance rate in following up on findings of online gambling and DFK in Indonesia is only 28.47 percent. This figure places Meta among the social media companies operating in Indonesia with the lowest compliance rates.

This finding is significant because the number of Meta service users in Indonesia is among the largest in the world, with Facebook and WhatsApp users estimated at around 112 million each.

Minister Meutya said delays in content moderation can pose serious risks to society. “This DFK content has the potential to threaten Indonesian society if it is not dealt with quickly,” she stated in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 4, as quoted on the ministry’s official website.

She added that the spread of disinformation not only triggers social conflict but also weakens democracy and increases polarization, potentially disrupting public order.

Regulatory-wise, the government refers to Article 40 of Law No. 1/2024 on Electronic Information and Transactions (UU ITE), which authorizes the state to prevent the spread of illegal electronic information.

Minister Meutya emphasized that all electronic system providers operating in Indonesia must comply with national law and are responsible for ensuring public digital safety.

The ministry urged Meta to strengthen its content moderation system and accelerate the handling of violations on its platforms. This effort is considered essential to reduce the risks of online gambling, health misinformation, digital fraud, and sexual exploitation, which are increasingly prevalent in the digital space. ***