Indonesia - June 2026

On 9 June 2026, Indonesia’s parliament approved revisions to the National Police Law allowing serving police officers to occupy positions in civilian ministries and state agencies without resigning from the police force. The amendments permit active officers to hold posts related to public security, law enforcement and public services, and allow appointments at the request of the president or government agencies. Civil society groups, legal experts and human rights organizations criticized the reforms, arguing that they blur the distinction between civilian administration and law enforcement, weaken accountability mechanisms and contradict a 2025 Constitutional Court ruling requiring officers to resign before assuming non-police positions. The reform represents a significant institutional expansion of police influence within the civilian state apparatus and raises concerns about oversight, checks and balances, and the increasing role of security institutions in governance. 

In March 2026, Indonesia introduced regulations restricting access to social media platforms for children under 16, requiring operators of designated high-risk platforms to prevent underage users from maintaining accounts. The policy, announced on 6 March and scheduled to take effect later that month, was justified by the government as a response to cyberbullying, online fraud, exposure to pornography and social media addiction among minors. By late June, Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid reported that TikTok and YouTube had deactivated approximately 4.7 million accounts belonging to children following implementation of the restrictions. The regulations significantly expand state oversight of access to online communication platforms and information channels. While framed as a child-protection measure, the policy represents a major change in the regulation of digital expression and access to information in Indonesia. 

Sources: The Guardian , Jakarta Post , The Diplomat