UNAIR NEWS – The internet’s growing accessibility offers both educational opportunities and potential risks, particularly for children’s psychological and moral development. In response to these concerns, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Menkomdigi) has launched the Regulatory Reinforcement Task Force for Child Protection in the Digital Sphere, which officially commenced operations on Monday (February 3, 2025).
Assessing task force’s effectiveness and challenges
Dr. Maryamah S. Kom, a faculty member at UNAIR’s Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline (FTMM), highlighted the increasing digital threats facing children. “While the internet provides valuable educational resources, emotionally immature children are particularly vulnerable to adopting harmful behaviors they encounter online,” she explained.
She emphasized that forming the task force is a necessary step, given Indonesia’s alarming ranking in child pornography cases. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Indonesia ranks fourth globally and second in ASEAN for the highest circulation of such content. “This initiative is critical, as children—who represent our nation’s future—must be protected from harmful digital exposure,” she stressed.
Leveraging AI and big data for cybersecurity
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytics play a vital role in detecting and preventing online threats targeting children. AI technology is now capable of automatically identifying and filtering explicit content.
“AI can detect and remove harmful material from social media platforms, including the disturbing rise of ‘Elsagate’ videos on YouTube. In fact, UNAIR students specializing in Data Science have developed AI-powered tools to identify and filter inappropriate content,” she noted.
Are technological safeguards sufficient?
While existing content-filtering applications such as Google Safe Search, YouTube Kids, and Apple Parental Controls offer protective measures, their effectiveness remains limited without sufficient awareness and training for parents.
“UNAIR students have developed AI-based content detection tools, but their research has yet to receive widespread recognition. Government support is essential in advancing digital security research,” Dr. Maryamah stated.
She also stressed that regulation alone would not be enough without comprehensive digital education. “Before enforcing child protection laws, parents must be educated on digital supervision. Many children are exposed to inappropriate content simply due to a lack of parental monitoring,” she added.
While the establishment of the task force is an important step toward a safer digital space for children, its success will depend on strong regulatory enforcement, active parental involvement, educational institution support, and collaboration with child welfare organizations.
“This task force must not become a mere symbolic effort—it needs to deliver real, tangible solutions that foster a secure and supportive digital environment for Indonesia’s children,” she concluded.
Author: Sintya Alfafa
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
