Indonesia Mulls Mandatory Phone Number Verification For Social Media Accounts

JAKARTA, May 18 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is considering requiring social media users to register their accounts using mobile phone numbers as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and combat misuse of digital platforms.

Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said the proposal is currently being discussed through a public consultation process before any policy is finalised.

She said while providing a mobile phone number when creating social media accounts is currently optional in Indonesia, making it mandatory will make users more accountable for content shared on digital platforms.

"This would make identities of those users clearer,” she said, in a meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives, according to ANTARA News Agency on Monday.

Meanwhile, Meutya said compliance among digital platforms with government requests to moderate harmful content remains low, at around 20 per cent.

Therefore, she said Indonesia has also begun directly investigating several digital platforms, including Meta, particularly over the handling of health-related misinformation and compliance with the country’s child protection regulations.

She said the government is also considering regulations requiring digital platforms to establish representative offices in Indonesia to facilitate faster coordination with authorities on digital governance and online safety issues.

-- BERNAMA