Key Points
- Indonesia has suspended TikTok’s operating license in the country.
- The move came after TikTok refused to hand over all of the user data the government had demanded.
- The data request pertained to the use of TikTok’s live-streaming feature during recent protests.
- The government says some accounts were using the feature for online gambling activities.
Indonesia has suspended TikTok’s license to operate in the country after the social media giant failed to comply with a government demand for user data. The app remained accessible to users on Friday, but the move marks a significant escalation in tensions between the platform and the Indonesian government.
The dispute stems from recent national protests. According to a government official, some accounts with ties to online gambling were using TikTok’s live-stream feature to monetize the protests. In response, the government demanded that TikTok hand over all of its traffic, streaming, and monetization data related to the feature.
TikTok, which has over 100 million users in Indonesia, only provided partial data, citing its internal procedures. The government deemed this a violation of its rules and suspended the company’s registration as an electronic service provider.
Under Indonesian law, every company that applies for a license must submit its data to the government for “supervision,” or risk being blocked. TikTok had previously suspended its live-stream feature during the protests, saying it was trying to keep the platform “a safe and civil space.”
The full impact of the suspension remains unclear. While the government has the power to block the app entirely, it was still functioning normally on Friday. TikTok has not yet commented on the situation.
