Indonesia suspends TikTok licence for refusing to fully share data on anti-government protest live streams and suspected online gambling
Indonesia Suspends TikTok Licence after the popular video-sharing platform failed to provide complete data related to anti-government protests and alleged online gambling activity.
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The country’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs announced the temporary suspension on Friday, citing TikTok’s refusal to fully comply with a government request for user and traffic data related to its live-streaming feature during protests in August 2025.
Indonesia, TikTok’s second-largest market with over 100 million users, had set a September 23 deadline for the company to submit full data but said it received only “partial information.”
“This step is a form of the government’s firmness after TikTok only provided partial data,” said Alexander Sabar, the ministry’s director general of digital space supervision.
The government’s request included data linked to the monetisation of live streams and suspected use of the platform for online gambling, further intensifying scrutiny on TikTok’s local operations.
In response, TikTok said it 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.”
Despite the suspension, TikTok’s live-streaming feature remained accessible as of Friday evening.
The Indonesia suspends TikTok licence decision is the latest in a series of regulatory clashes between the platform and authorities in Jakarta.
Earlier this week, TikTok was fined $900,000 by the country’s antitrust agency for failing to properly disclose its acquisition of Tokopedia, Indonesia’s largest e-commerce platform.
In 2023, Indonesia also suspended TikTok’s ecommerce operations over concerns it threatened small businesses. This prompted TikTok to acquire a 75% stake in Tokopedia, merging their commerce platforms.
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The ongoing tensions underscore the challenges global tech platforms face in navigating regulatory demands in emerging markets, especially where data sovereignty, economic control, and national security converge.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
