Indonesia has taken decisive action against social media giant TikTok, suspending its operating license due to the platform’s failure to fully comply with government requests for data. This significant move, announced on Friday, October 3, 2025, centers on TikTok’s live stream feature and concerns over how data is handled.
While the suspension technically could block access for TikTok’s massive Indonesian user base – estimated at over 100 million accounts – the application remained accessible as usual on Friday. The Ministry responsible for communications and digital affairs has yet to issue further clarification regarding the immediate impact on users.
According to Alexander Sabar, an official from Indonesia’s Communications and Digital Ministry, the government’s primary concern arose after identifying several accounts with ties to online gambling operations that allegedly exploited TikTok’s live stream functionality during recent national protests. These demonstrations, which took place from late August to September, challenged issues such as lawmaker allowances and police brutality in the world’s third-largest democracy.
During these turbulent times, TikTok had proactively, albeit temporarily, disabled its live streaming feature. The company stated its intention was to “keep TikTok a safe and civil space.”
A TikTok spokesperson confirmed on Friday that the company is actively collaborating with the digital ministry to address the situation, reiterating its commitment to respecting local laws and regulations in every market it serves.
Mr. Sabar explained that the Indonesian government had specifically requested comprehensive data on user traffic, live stream activities, and monetization efforts from the ByteDance-owned platform. However, TikTok reportedly failed to provide this complete dataset, citing internal procedures as the reason for its incomplete submission. This partial compliance was deemed a violation of the company’s obligations as a private electronic system provider.
Under Indonesian regulatory frameworks, any company registered to offer electronic services must furnish requested data to the government for oversight purposes. Failure to do so carries the risk of being blocked, underscoring the seriousness of Indonesia’s stance on digital accountability and data transparency.