August 31, 2025 | 02:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision at the Ministry of Communication and Digital, claimed that the policy to restrict TikTok's live streaming feature was initiated by the social media platform. According to him, his ministry did not order TikTok to implement the policy.
"There was no order from us. It came from TikTok itself," Sabar said when contacted on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
TikTok recently announced it was temporarily suspending its live streaming feature in Indonesia. The suspension is expected to be in effect for the next few days due to demonstrations accompanied by widespread rioting and looting.
"Due to the escalating violence of demonstrations in Indonesia, we have voluntarily implemented additional safeguards to maintain TikTok as a civil and safe space," a TikTok spokesperson told AFP, as reported by The Economic Times on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
The video-sharing app, owned by China's ByteDance, stated that it will continue to monitor developments in Indonesia.
The restriction on TikTok's live streaming feature comes after Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Angga Raka Prabowo announced plans to summon social media platform providers such as Meta and TikTok. The summons will discuss the handling of provocative content on social media.
Angga asked social media platform managers to help maintain a healthy democratic climate by providing a digital space free from disinformation, slander, and hate speech.
"This undermines the foundations of democracy. For example, if we want to express an aspiration, express an opinion, but suddenly social media is spiced up or supplemented with inappropriate information, that undermines our enthusiasm for expressing our aspirations," said Angga at the Presidential Communications Office, Jakarta, August 27, 2025.
Damar Juniarto, Director of the Indonesian Anti-Digital Disinformation Working Group, suspects that the restriction of TikTok's live feature on content featuring demonstrations in the country was at the government's request.
He believes the restriction on TikTok's live content is related to communications between Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Angga Raka Prabowo and representatives of TikTok and Meta. He believes the implementation of this policy demonstrates unilateral content moderation.
"This is called censorship, and this kind of censorship certainly hinders democracy," Damar told Tempo on August 31, 2025.
Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to this article.
Editor's Choice: Tokopedia Addresses Layoff Rumors Following TikTok Merger
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Mass Protest Impact: University of Indonesia Shifts Lectures to Online Format from September 1 to 4
38 menit lalu
The University of Indonesia has decided to move all academic and non-academic activities online following widespread protests in various regions.
Indonesian President Prabowo Gathers Political Party Elites Amid Massive Protests
52 menit lalu
President Prabowo Subianto gathered political party elites at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Sunday, August 31, 2025, amidst a wave of protests in several cities in Indonesia that led to riots.
List of Toll Gates Temporarily Closed Today due to Mass Protest
1 jam lalu
PT Jasa Marga temporarily closed eight inner-city toll gates heading towards Cawang, East Jakarta, this morning, August 31, due to mass protest.
Jakarta Provincial Govt Gives Response to Wave of Looting, Destruction of Public Facilities Amid Mass Protest
2 jam lalu
Wave of looting at the homes of members of the parliament and public facility destruction has been ongoing since last Friday amid protest in Indonesia
Indonesia's Whoosh High-Speed Rail Debt Concerning: House Responses to Financial Issues
2 jam lalu
The director of PT KAI, Bobby Rasyidin, proposed the restructuring of the Whoosh project, which has been hampered by debt, in a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission VI.
East Java Governor Residence Complex in Surabaya Set on Fire, Looted by Mob
3 jam lalu
The Grahadi State Building, the official residence complex of East Java Governor in Surabaya, Indonesia, was set on fire by a mob on August 30.
Excessive Police Violence During Massive Protest in Indonesia Violates International Law, Says Coalition
3 jam lalu
The excessive police violence during the ongoing massive protest in Indonesia contradicts Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Indonesian House Member Caught Visiting Australia Amid Massive Protest
4 jam lalu
Indonesian House Member denied that he was planning to participate in Australia's Sydney Marathon amid ongoing widespread protest.
16 Islamic Organizations Meet with Prabowo to Discuss Worsening Mass Protest in Indonesia
5 jam lalu
16 Islamic social organizations met with President Prabowo Subianto to discuss the country's situation amid the widespread demonstrations throughout Indonesia.
Prabowo Cancels Visit to China Amid Widening Protests in Indonesia
5 jam lalu
The Presidential Palace announced that President Prabowo Subianto has canceled his foreign visit to China to attend a military parade on September 3, 2025.
