JAKARTA – Indonesia has moved to suspend TikTok’s status as an electronic system provider after the social media giant failed to hand over complete data related to the use of its live stream feature, officials announced Friday. Despite the administrative action, the app, owned by China’s ByteDance, remained fully accessible to users across the archipelago nation.
Alexander Sabar, an official at Indonesia’s Communications and Digital Ministry, confirmed the suspension, stating that the action was a direct consequence of the company’s non-compliance. Authorities had demanded full data disclosure after allegations surfaced that accounts with ties to illegal online gambling activities were exploiting and monetising TikTok’s live stream feature during recent national protests.
The controversies stem from a period of significant unrest. Protests gripped the world’s third-largest democracy from late August into September, fueled by widespread public anger over police brutality and high allowances for lawmakers. During this volatile period, TikTok had temporarily suspended its live feature, saying the decision was intended to “keep TikTok a safe and civil space.”
Sabar explained that the government subsequently requested crucial data, including traffic, streaming, and monetisation records. However, TikTok provided only partial information, citing its internal operating procedures.
“The Communications and Digital Ministry therefore deemed TikTok to have violated its obligations as a private electronic provider,” Sabar stated, leading to the suspension of its registration. Under Indonesian law, any company registered under the country’s licensing rules must surrender its data to the government for supervision purposes or face the risk of being blocked entirely.
With over 100 million accounts in Indonesia, the popular short-video platform offered no immediate comment on the suspension. As of Friday, it remained unclear whether the government planned to fully enforce a block. A test by Reuters confirmed that the application could still be accessed and used normally by Indonesian users, while the Ministry offered no further clarification on the immediate operational impact. The move signals a growing assertiveness by Jakarta in regulating the data practices of major global tech platforms.
