Indonesia’s government has suspended the operating licence of video-sharing giant TikTok after the platform failed to provide data on recent anti-government protests, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs announced on Friday.
The ministry said TikTok had been asked to submit full traffic and activity data, including details on its live feature and “the alleged monetisation” of live streams linked to online gambling. TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, provided only partial information before the September 23 deadline.
“This step is a form of the government’s firmness after TikTok only provided partial data,” Alexander Sabar, director general of digital space supervision, said in a statement.
Indonesia is TikTok’s second-largest market globally, with over 100 million users. Despite the suspension, the platform’s live feature was still functioning on Friday evening.
A TikTok spokesperson said the company respects local laws and is “working closely with the ministry… while remaining committed to safeguarding user privacy and ensuring that our platform provides a safe and responsible experience for the community in Indonesia.”
The app has faced mounting regulatory challenges in the country. It suspended its live feature in August after violent protests over the death of a man struck by a police vehicle. Earlier this week, Indonesia’s antitrust authority fined TikTok $900,000 for failing to notify regulators in time about its acquisition of e-commerce platform Tokopedia.
In 2023, the government also suspended TikTok’s e-commerce feature in a move to protect small businesses. The platform later secured a 75 percent stake in Tokopedia, merging their online shopping operations.
What you should know
Indonesia, one of TikTok’s biggest markets, has tightened scrutiny on the platform amid political unrest and regulatory clashes.
The suspension highlights ongoing tensions between digital platforms and governments over data access, user safety, and compliance with national laws.
