Indonesia presses digital platforms for clearer accountability on algorithms

Digital platforms should make their algorithms more transparent and take greater responsibility for them, Indonesian Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said at Bali Tech Week 2026. Her appeal in Denpasar, Bali, covered electronic system operators, including platform providers.

Meutya highlighted both the benefits and risks of children going online. The internet supports learning, communication, creativity and exploration, she said, but can also expose children to damaging material, unsuitable interactions and environments inappropriate for their development or age.

She put Indonesia’s connected population at approximately 235 million people, or around 82 per cent of its population. She said connectivity, growth and protection underpin the government’s digital transformation efforts, stressing that growth would have little value without safeguards for users.

Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil described how algorithms adjust social media recommendations to viewing preferences. Watching a cat video, for instance, could lead to a feed dominated by similar videos, he said. Fahmi argued that regulation was needed to safeguard users.

Fahmi welcomed Indonesia’s introduction of social media age limits through Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on Electronic System Governance for Child Protection, known as PP Tunas. Malaysia also began enforcing age limits on social media for children under 16 in 2026 through its Online Safety Act.