Indonesia halts TikTok registration citing missing streaming data | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- Indonesia suspended TikTok's electronic system registration due to incomplete data handover regarding its live stream feature.
- The government sought specific data (traffic, streaming, monetization) following reports of online gambling use during recent national protests.
- The suspension could potentially block access to TikTok for its over 100 million accounts in Indonesia.
- TikTok stated it respects local laws and is actively working with the Indonesian digital ministry to resolve the issue.
- The suspension is based on Indonesian regulations requiring licensed electronic providers to submit data for government supervision.
Indonesia suspended TikTok's registration as an electronic system provider on Friday after the company failed to comply with a government request to hand over complete data related to its live stream feature. This regulatory action carries the theoretical risk of blocking access to the platform for its more than 100 million Indonesian users, though Reuters noted access remained normal immediately following the announcement. An official from the communications and digital ministry, Alexander Sabar, stated the data request stemmed from concerns that some accounts used the live stream function for online gambling activities during recent national protests over lawmaker allowances and police brutality. TikTok had previously temporarily suspended its live feature during those protests to maintain a civil space. The government required traffic, streaming, and monetization data, but TikTok, owned by ByteDance, reportedly did not provide complete information, citing internal procedures. Consequently, the ministry concluded TikTok violated its obligations as a private electronic provider, leading to the suspension of its registration under licensing rules that mandate data handover for supervision.
