Communication and Informatics Ministry Demands X to Establish Indonesian Office

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - The Communication and Informatics Ministry (Kemenkominfo) has announced its intention to mandate that social media platform X establish a representative office in Indonesia.

The Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi stated on Thursday (10/3) " It (X) should have a representative in Indonesia, as it is operating in Indonesia. Moreover, X has 25 million users in Indonesia."

In addition to the platform's substantial user count, Kominfo noted that X was absent from the 2024 Peaceful Regional Heads Elections declaration held by the Kemenkominfo.

The commitment was signed by six major platforms, including Meta (Instagram, Threads, WhatsApp, Facebook), Google (Google and YouTube), TikTok, SnackVideo, Telegram, and LINE. This absence has raised questions about X's commitment to maintaining a healthy digital environment in Indonesia.

If X fails to comply with the government's request, Kominfo has indicated that it will take decisive action, potentially including blocking access to the platform in Indonesia, similar to measures taken by Brazil.