Jakarta: The Indonesian government announced the suspension of TikTok’s operating license due to the platform’s failure to provide authorities with information about the protests that took place in the country last August. The Indonesian Ministry of Communications stated that it had “temporarily suspended” TikTok’s license in Indonesia due to the platform’s failure to provide authorities with information related to live videos during anti-government protests last August.
According to Qatar News Agency, a TikTok spokesperson said the platform is working closely with the Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to ensure the protection of user privacy. Indonesia serves as the second-largest market for TikTok, a video-sharing platform owned by Chinese conglomerate ByteDance, with more than 100 million users.
Additionally, last Monday, the Indonesian Antitrust Agency imposed a USD 900,000 fine on TikTok for failing to notify regulators of its acquisition of the Indonesian e-commerce platform Tokopedia. In 2023, Indonesian authorities suspended TikTok’s online sales feature as part of initiatives to support small businesses.
Recently, Indonesia witnessed protests demanding equal opportunities, which turned violent after a motorcycle taxi driver was killed following a collision with a police car. The violence resulted in 10 deaths, as reported by human rights organizations.