Indonesia Restores TikTok License After Data Handover on Live Streams

The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) suspended TikTok’s license on October 2 after the platform initially refused to provide data on live streams from August 23–30.

Reasons for the License Suspension

Authorities suspected that livestream donations were being used to support or promote protests against the government and police violence. On September 23, TikTok declined to provide monetization information, citing internal platform rules.

Situation During the Protests

At the end of August, protests erupted in Indonesia against lawmakers’ privileges and police brutality. Ten people were killed during the demonstrations. The escalation of violence led TikTok to temporarily suspend the live-streaming feature on August 30 to maintain a safe space for users.

Data Handover and License Restoration

After negotiations, TikTok handed over aggregated and partially anonymized data to the government on October 3. The temporary suspension had sparked discussions about freedom of speech in the country.

TikTok Statements

In a letter dated September 23, TikTok stated that its internal rules prevented it from fully complying with the data request. The platform emphasized that the measures were intended to ensure safe usage of the service during the protests.

Public Reaction and Consequences

• The license suspension triggered debates on social media about freedom of speech and censorship
• Restoring TikTok allowed live broadcasts to resume while following safety guidelines
• The events drew international media attention to Indonesia’s regulation of online platforms

Key Event Timeline