Indonesian Police Block Over 10,000 Child Sexual Abuse Materials on Internet
Reporter
July 18, 2025 | 08:56 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) claims to have blocked 10,934 child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in digital spaces. The measure has been carried out by the police's task force on online CSAM, since May 24, 2024.
"This step is part of a systematic effort to create a safe cyberspace for children," said Director of Women and Children's Crimes and Human Trafficking Eradication at Bareskrim, Brigadier General Nurul Azizah, in a written statement quoted on Friday, July 18, 2025.
According to Nurul, the new directorate, which was established in October 2024, is a progressive step by the police to focus on addressing violence against women, children, vulnerable groups, and human trafficking, including electronic-based sexual violence.
Previously, the Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, revealed that Indonesia ranks fourth in the world in terms of child sexual abuse materials, with over 5.5. million content sold in the the country.
Additionally, 48 percent of Indonesian children experience online bullying, and over 80,000 children in Indonesia under the age of 10 are exposed to online gambling.
The police recently discovered a number of cases linked to the purchase and distribution of child sexual abuse materials across several regions.
For instance, the Cyber Crime Directorate of East Java Regional Police arrested ASF in a case of CSAM distribution through social media.
The Head of Public Relations of East Java Regional Police, Grand Commissioner Jules Abraham Abast, said the suspect had traded around 2,500 videos and photos containing child sexual abuse materials through the Telegram and Potato Chat applications. "The suspect obtained the videos and photos from other CSAM sales syndicates," Abast said, as quoted from a press release on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
To promote the paid Telegram and Potato Chat channels, the suspect used Instagram with the username @orangtuanakalcommunity and included a bio with the Telegram username @OrangTuaNakalCommunity.
Disclaimer: To report any doubts or concerns related to child safeguarding, child sexual abuse, and/or violence against children, please contact the nearest authorities and/or relevant organizations. Child Helpline International at https://childhelplineinternational.org/helplines/ provides an extensive list of global helplines for accessible assistance and counseling services for children and young people. To report wrongdoings against children, including online child sexual abuse material and imagery, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children at https://www.icmec.org/hotlines-and-helplines/ provides a list of global hotlines.
If you’re in Indonesia, you can contact the Ministry of Social Affairs’ TePSA hotline at 1500771, or the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection’s SAPA Service 129 at 08111 129 129. For immediate dangers, call the police at Call Center 110.
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