Jakarta. Lawmakers voiced support on Friday for a government plan requiring social media users to register accounts using verified mobile phone numbers, arguing the measure could reduce anonymous “buzzer” accounts, online disinformation, and cybercrime.

The proposal, introduced by the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry, would require all social media users in Indonesia to re-register their accounts using a phone number linked to their identity.

Meutya Hafid first outlined the plan during a parliamentary hearing earlier this week, saying mandatory phone-number registration could strengthen user accountability and help curb harmful online content.

Supporters in parliament said the move could limit the spread of fake accounts and automated “bot” networks often used to amplify hoaxes, provocation, and political propaganda online.

“With clearer identities, there will no longer be robot or anonymous accounts used to spread negative content, lies, and provocation on social media,” said Oleh Soleh, a member of the House of Representatives’ Commission I overseeing communications and information policy, on Friday.

Another Commission I member, Nurul Arifin from the Golkar Party, said digital platforms have evolved into spaces tied not only to social interaction but also to economic activity, politics, and national security.

“Because of that, the state must ensure accountability,” she said.

Nurul argued that verified phone numbers could help authorities and digital platforms respond more quickly to online fraud, disinformation, AI-generated deepfakes, child exploitation, and cross-border cybercrime.

Nurul pointed to countries such as China and South Korea, which have implemented forms of real-name or identity-linked online registration systems, although they stressed Indonesia should adapt the policy to its own democratic framework rather than replicate foreign models outright.

At the same time, legislators cautioned that the policy would require strong safeguards for personal data protection and transparency in how digital identity systems are managed.

“Public data access must be tightly supervised and not misused,” Nurul said, adding that independent oversight and regular cybersecurity audits would be essential.

The proposal comes as Indonesia tightens regulation of online platforms under the recently enacted child-protection regulation known as PP Tunas, which sets a minimum age of 16 for social media use and restricts targeted advertising aimed at minors.

Under the policy, platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Roblox have pledged compliance. TikTok alone has disabled around 780,000 accounts belonging to users under 16 in Indonesia since April, according to the ministry.

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