NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL DILEMMA: PROTECTING INDONESIAN CHILDREN FROM CYBERCRIME
Abstract
Children has been increasingly vulnerable to a multitude of cybercrimes in Indonesia. These include alarming issues such as online grooming, sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, and identity theft. This situation not only presents significant legal challenges but also represents a profound ethical crisis within Indonesia’s evolving digital landscape. This article utilizes a normative juridical approach alongside a conceptual framework to articulate legal arguments surrounding these pressing concerns. While regulatory measures exist, such as the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law and the Child Protection Law, their enforcement remains fragmented and often inadequate to tackle the constantly changing nature of digital threats. The ethical dimensions of this crisis cannot be overlooked, as they intertwine with corporate responsibility, parental awareness, and systemic inaction. Such issues amplify the risks that children face online. This study asserts that the combination of legal deficiencies and ethical oversight creates a substantial protection gap that demands a coherent and interdisciplinary response. To effectively safeguard children in the digital age, it is crucial to strengthen institutional capacities, integrate digital literacy within educational curricula, and adopt child-centered approaches to digital governance. By doing so, we can work towards ensuring that the rights, dignity, and safety of children are prioritized and protected in Indonesia.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Achmad Wiryawan, Rinalvin, Istislam Istislam, and Dhia Al Uyun. “The Right to Communicate and Accessing Information on the Termination of Access Policy of Unregistered Private Scope Electronic System Operators.” Journal of Social Research 3, no. 2 (2024). https://doi.org/10.55324/josr.v3i2.1946.
Aini, Nurul, and Fauziah Lubis. “Tantangan Pembuktian Dalam Kasus Kejahatan Siber.” Judge : Jurnal Hukum 5, no. 2 (2024): 55–63. https://doi.org/10.54209/judge.v5i02.566.
Alhabash, Saleem, and Mengyan Ma. “A Tale of Four Platforms: Motivations and Uses of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat Among College Students?” Social Media + Society 3, no. 1 (2017): 2056305117691544. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305117691544.
Amriyanto, Amriyanto, Husen Alting, Handar Subhandi Bakhtiar, and Grahadi Purna Putra. “Breaking the Cycle: Reforming Indonesia’s Justice System to Prioritize Victim-Centered Solutions.” Jurnal Dinamika Hukum 24, no. 3 (2024): 414. https://doi.org/10.20884/1.jdh.2024.24.3.15577.
Anwary, Ichsan. “The Role of Public Administration in Combating Cybercrime: An Analysis of the Legal Framework in Indonesia.” International Journal of Cyber Criminology 16, no. 2 (2022): 216–27.
Awopetu, Ronke Grace, Benjamin Adegboyega Olabimitan, Samson Olowo Kolawole, Rebecca Temitope Newton, Albert Arop Odok, and Anna Vitalievna Awopetu. “The Systematic Review of Social Media Addiction and Mental Health of Nigerian University Students: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.” European Journal of Theoretical and Applied Sciences 2, no. 1 (2024): 767–88. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejtas.2024.2(1).69.
Bah, Yahya Muhammed. “Combating Child Abuse in Indonesia: Achievements and Challenges.” International Journal of Management (IJM) 13, no. 3 (2022): 193–213.
Berghs, Sabine, Geoffrey Stewart Morrison, and Caroline Goemans-Dorny. “Electronic Evidence: Challenges and Opportunities for Law Enforcement.” In Handling and Exchanging Electronic Evidence Across Europe, edited by Maria Angela Biasiotti, Jeanne Pia Mifsud Bonnici, Joe Cannataci, and Fabrizio Turchi, vol. 39. Law, Governance and Technology Series. Springer International Publishing, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74872-6_6.
Bounds, Dawn, Wrenetha A. Julion, and Kathleen R. Delaney. “Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and State Child Welfare Systems.” Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice 16, nos. 1–2 (2015): 17–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154415583124.
Buoncompagni, Giacomo. “Digital (Dis)Integration. Narratives and Management of Migration on Social Media.” Peace Human Rights Governance 5, no. 03/2021 (2021): 41–64. https://doi.org/10.14658/pupj-phrg-2021-1-2.
Calvete, Esther, Izaskun Orue, and Manuel Gámez-Guadi. “A Preventive Intervention to Reduce Risk of Online Grooming Among Adolescents.” Psychosocial Intervention 31, no. 3 (2022): 177–84. https://doi.org/10.5093/pi2022a14.
Collier, Ben, Daniel R. Thomas, Richard Clayton, Alice Hutchings, and Yi Ting Chua. “Influence, Infrastructure, and Recentering Cybercrime Policing: Evaluating Emerging Approaches to Online Law Enforcement through a Market for Cybercrime Services.” Policing and Society 32, no. 1 (2022): 103–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10439463.2021.1883608.
Cvek, Victoria. “Policing Social Media: Balancing the Interests of Schools and Students and Providing Universal Protection for Students Rights.” Penn State Law Review 121, no. 2 (2016): 583–616.
Dąbrowska, Marta. “The Unclear Picture of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Online Volumes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Białostockie Studia Prawnicze 26, no. 6 (2021): 109–25. https://doi.org/10.15290/bsp.2021.26.06.07.
Daly, Aoife. “Assessing Children’s Capacity: Reconceptualising Our Understanding through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.” International Journal of Children’s Rights 28, no. 3 (2020): 471–99. https://doi.org/10.1163/15718182-02803011.
Dennis, Matthew, and Tom Harrison. “Unique Ethical Challenges for the 21st Century: Online Technology and Virtue Education.” Journal of Moral Education 50, no. 3 (2021): 251–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2020.1781071.
Dhana, Phutu Ayu, and Achmad Muchaddam Fahham. “PERUNDUNGAN DARING (CYBERBULLYING) PADA ANAK.” Info Singkat Komisi VIII, 2025. https://berkas.dpr.go.id/pusaka/files/isu_sepekan/Isu%20Sepekan---III-PUSLIT-Maret-2025-2480.pdf.
Dias Oliva, Thiago. “Content Moderation Technologies: Applying Human Rights Standards to Protect Freedom of Expression.” Human Rights Law Review 20, no. 4 (2020): 607–40. https://doi.org/10.1093/hrlr/ngaa032.
Djanggih, Hardianto, Hambali Thalib, Hamza Baharuddin, Nurul Qamar, and Ansari Saleh Ahmar. “The Effectiveness of Law Enforcement on Child Protection for Cybercrime Victims in Indonesia.” Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1028 (June 2018): 012192. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1028/1/012192.
Dorasamy, Magiswary, Maniam Kaliannan, Manimekalai Jambulingam, Iqbal Ramadhan, and Ashok Sivaji. “Parents’ Awareness on Online Predators: Cyber Grooming Deterrence.” The Qualitative Report, ahead of print, 2021. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4914.
Dr. A.Shaji George. “Bridging the Digital Divide: Understanding the Human Impacts of Digital Transformation.” Partners Universal International Innovation Journal 2, no. 3 (2024): 1–34. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.11287684.
Facca, Danica, Maxwell J. Smith, Jacob Shelley, Daniel Lizotte, and Lorie Donelle. “Exploring the Ethical Issues in Research Using Digital Data Collection Strategies with Minors: A Scoping Review.” PLOS ONE 15, no. 8 (2020): e0237875. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237875.
Fahham, Achmad Muchaddam. “Kekerasan Pada Anak Di Satuan Pendidikan.” Pusat Analisis Keparlemenan Badan Keahlian Setjen DPR RI, 2024. https://berkas.dpr.go.id/pusaka/files/isu_sepekan/Isu%20Sepekan---I-PUSLIT-Februari-2024-190.pdf.
Goldsmith, Andrew, and David S. Wall. “The Seductions of Cybercrime: Adolescence and the Thrills of Digital Transgression.” European Journal of Criminology 19, no. 1 (2022): 98–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370819887305.
Greenleaf, Graham. Asian Data Privacy Laws: Trade & Human Rights Perspectives. Oxford University Press, 2014. https://www.google.co.id/books/edition/Asian_Data_Privacy_Laws/0eAuBQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover.
Gupta, Puja, Baloy Bhattacharjee, and Jayanta Ghosh. “Navigating The Legal Labyrinth: Framework And Challenges In Combating Cybercrime.” Library Progress International 44, no. 4 (2024): 792–802.
Gupta, Shivam Kumar, and Preeti Singh. “Global Cybersecurity Governance: The Role of International Norms in Cyberspace.” In Cybercrime Unveiled: Technologies for Analysing Legal Complexity, edited by Mohamed Chawki and Ajith Abraham, vol. 1181. Studies in Computational Intelligence. Springer Nature Switzerland, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-80557-8_5.
Hakimi, Laura, Rebecca Eynon, and Victoria A. Murphy. “The Ethics of Using Digital Trace Data in Education: A Thematic Review of the Research Landscape.” Review of Educational Research 91, no. 5 (2021): 671–717. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543211020116.
Helbing, Dirk. “Societal, Economic, Ethical and Legal Challenges of the Digital Revolution: From Big Data to Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Manipulative Technologies.” In Towards Digital Enlightenment, edited by Dirk Helbing. Springer International Publishing, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90869-4_6.
Human Rights Watch. “Governments Harm Children’s Rights in Online Learning.” Human Rights Watch, 2022. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/05/25/governments-harm-childrens-rights-online-learning.
Imam, Syed Kaleem, and Tabassum Naz. “Cyberbullying: Legal Challenges and Societal Impacts in the Digital Age.” Pakistan Social Sciences Review 8, no. 4 (2024): 392–407.
Kaloeti, Dian Veronika Sakti, Rouli Manalu, Ika Febrian Kristiana, and Mariola Bidzan. “The Role of Social Media Use in Peer Bullying Victimization and Onset of Anxiety Among Indonesian Elementary School Children.” Frontiers in Psychology 12 (April 2021): 635725. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635725.
Korajlija, Andrea. “An Unfair Game of Virtual Hide-and-Go-Seek: The Passive Collection of Children’s Information Online.” Canadian Journal of Children’s Rights / Revue Canadienne Des Droits Des Enfants 7, no. 1 (2020): 326–49. https://doi.org/10.22215/cjcr.v7i1.2796.
Koumachi, Bani and School of Arts and Humanities, Ibn Tofail University, Kénitra, Morocco. “The Digital Turn in Higher Education: A Try to Demystify the Myth of the ‘Digital Natives.’” International Journal of Research in English Education 4, no. 1 (2019): 69–79. https://doi.org/10.29252/ijree.4.1.69.
Laird, Jessica J., Bianca Klettke, Kate Hall, and David Hallford. “Toward a Global Definition and Understanding of Child Sexual Exploitation: The Development of a Conceptual Model.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 24, no. 4 (2023): 2243–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221090980.
Malatji, Masike, and Alaa Tolah. “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cybersecurity Dimensions: A Comprehensive Framework for Understanding Adversarial and Offensive AI.” AI and Ethics 5, no. 2 (2025): 883–910. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-024-00427-4.
Malik, Ayushi, and Pankaj Dadure. “Cyberbullying in the Digital Age: Consequences and Countermeasures.” In Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics, edited by Partha Pakray, Pankaj Dadure, and Sivaji Bandyopadhyay. IGI Global, 2024. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-0728-1.ch012.
Mane, Swapnil Sanjaykumar, Suman Kundu, and Rajesh Sharma. “A Survey on Online Aggression: Content Detection and Behavioral Analysis on Social Media.” ACM Computing Surveys 57, no. 7 (2025): 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1145/3711125.
Masterson, Marina A. “When Play Becomes Work: Child Labor Laws in the Era of Kidfluencers.” University of Pennsylvania Law Review 179, no. 2 (2021): 577–607.
Mbinjama-Gamatham, Adelina, and Bert Olivier. “‘Dark Technology’, Aggressiveness and the Question of Cyber-Ethics.” Acta Academica: Critical Views on Society, Culture and Politics 52, no. 1 (2020): 99–120. https://doi.org/10.18820/24150479/aa52i1/1.
Meena, Yogesh, Mahipal Singh Sankhla, Swaroop S. Sonone, Aastha Parashar, Kapil Parihar, and Kavita Saini. “Cyber Exploitation through Cybercrimes & Challenges.” 2021 3rd International Conference on Advances in Computing, Communication Control and Networking (ICAC3N), IEEE, December 17, 2021, 1467–72. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICAC3N53548.2021.9725493.
Meuthia, Siti Aisyah, and Bambang Pratama. “The Comparative of Regulations About Violation of Decency on Electronic Media Between Indonesia, United States, England, and Canada.” Proceedings of the 3rd Asia Pacific International, IEOM Society International, 2022, 2199–207. https://ieomsociety.org/proceedings/2022malaysia/364.pdf.
Mitchell, James. “TRANSNATIONAL ORGANISED CRIME IN INDONESIA: THE NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.” Brawijaya Law Journal 3, no. 2 (2016): 176–99. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.blj.2016.003.02.05.
Mustakim, Mahmud. “The Rights of Diversion in the Children’s Criminal Jurisdiction System as the Intent of Legal Protetion.” Indonesia Prime 5, no. 1 (2020): 51–67.
Nawaila, Muhammad Bello, Sezer Kanbul, and Fezile Ozdamli. “A Review on the Rights of Children in the Digital Age.” Children and Youth Services Review 94 (November 2018): 390–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.09.028.
Ne Varuhas, Jason. “Mapping Doctrinal Methods.” In Researching Public Law in Common Law Systems, edited by Paul Daly and Joe Tomlinson. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789904383.00009.
O’Brien, Wendy. “Criminalisation: The Legal and Ethical Complexities of Criminalising Children for Emergent, Digitally-Enabled Crimes.” In Children’s Rights and Criminal Justice in the Digital Age, by Wendy O’Brien. Palgrave Critical Studies in Human Rights and Criminology. Springer Nature Switzerland, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-68930-7_5.
Olson, Chelsea, and Amy Bellmore. “Online Aggression and Romantic Relationships in Adolescence.” In Child and Adolescent Online Risk Exposure. Elsevier, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817499-9.00006-5.
Palem, Gaman, and Bala Krishna Gadagamma. “Children as Content Creators: Exploring Opportunities and Navigating Media in the Digital Age.” Journal of Content, Community & Communication 20, no. 10 (2024): 52–61. https://doi.org/10.31620/JCCC.06.24/06.
Priska, Puspita Linda Laras, and Lego Karjoko. “Role and Position of the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection’s Regulation on Gender-Responsive and Child-Friendly Work Facilities.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Cultural Policy and Sustainable Development (ICPSD 2024), edited by Abdul Kadir Jaelani, Irwansyah Irwansyah, Fokke Fernhout, et al., vol. 869. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research. Atlantis Press SARL, 2024. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-315-3_29.
Putra, Rizky Tri Yuwana, and Teddy Rusmawan. “Strategi Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia Dalam Menegakkan Hukum Penyebaran Pornografi Anak Melalui Platform Digital Berdasarkan UU ITE.” Brand Communication 3, no. 1 (2024): 76–91.
Rahayuningsih, Uut, Anna Nur Hikmah, and Siti Nurcahyati. “Pendekatan Restorative Justice Dalam Perlindungan Hukum Anak Sebagai Pelaku Tindak Pidana: Menyeimbangkan Keadilan Dan Pembinaan.” Amandemen: Jurnal Ilmu Pertahanan, Politik Dan Hukum Indonesia 2, no. 2 (2025): 79–89. https://doi.org/10.62383/amandemen.v2i2.883.
Rasyid, Muh. Fadli Faisal, Muh. Akhdharisa Sj, Karlin Z. Mamu, Saptaning Ruju Paminto, Wahab Aznul Hidaya, and Abdennour Hamadi. “Cybercrime Threats and Responsibilities: The Utilization of Artificial Intelligence in Online Crime.” Jurnal Ilmiah Mizani: Wacana Hukum, Ekonomi Dan Keagamaan 11, no. 1 (2024): 49. https://doi.org/10.29300/mzn.v11i1.3318.
Sakhiyya, Zulfa, and Teguh Wijaya Mulya. “Introduction: Education in Indonesia—A Critical Introduction.” In Education in Indonesia, edited by Zulfa Sakhiyya and Teguh Wijaya Mulya, vol. 70. Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects. Springer Nature Singapore, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1878-2_1.
Salloch, Sabine, Sebastian Wäscher, Jochen Vollmann, and Jan Schildmann. “The Normative Background of Empirical-Ethical Research: First Steps towards a Transparent and Reasoned Approach in the Selection of an Ethical Theory.” BMC Medical Ethics 16, no. 1 (2015): 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-015-0016-x.
Savirimuthu, Joseph. “Transborder Challenges to Enforcing Online Child Safety Laws.” In Online Child Safety, by Joseph Savirimuthu. Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230361003_4.
Schia, Niels Nagelhus. “The Cyber Frontier and Digital Pitfalls in the Global South.” Third World Quarterly 39, no. 5 (2018): 821–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2017.1408403.
Shillito, Matthew Robert. “Untangling the ‘Dark Web’: An Emerging Technological Challenge for the Criminal Law.” Information & Communications Technology Law 28, no. 2 (2019): 186–207. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600834.2019.1623449.
Suadi, Amran. “PROTECTION OF WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S RIGHTS BASED ON SYSTEM INTERCONNECTION: A New Paradigm of Execution of Women and Children’s Rights after Divorce.” Jurnal Hukum Dan Peradilan 11, no. 3 (2022): 499. https://doi.org/10.25216/jhp.11.3.2022.499-522.
Third, Amanda, Girish Lala, Juliano Diniz De Oliveira, Delphine Bellerose, and Georgina Theakstone. “Young and Online: Children’s Perspectives on Life in the Digital Age (State of the World’s Children 2017 Companion Report).” Sydney, Australia: Western Sydney University, ahead of print, Western Sydney University, 2017. https://doi.org/10.4225/35/5A1B885F6D4DB.
Throuvala, Melina A., Mark D. Griffiths, Mike Rennoldson, and Daria J. Kuss. “Policy Recommendations for Preventing Problematic Internet Use in Schools: A Qualitative Study of Parental Perspectives.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 9 (2021): 4522. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094522.
Tobi, Abraham. “Towards an Epistemic Compass for Online Content Moderation.” Philosophy & Technology 37, no. 3 (2024): 109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-024-00791-3.
Van Der Hof, Simone, E. Lievens, I. Milkaite, V. Verdoodt, T. Hannema, and T. Liefaard. “The Child’s Right to Protection against Economic Exploitation in the Digital World.” The International Journal of Children’s Rights 28, no. 4 (2020): 833–59. https://doi.org/10.1163/15718182-28040003.
Vedechkina, Maria, and Francesca Borgonovi. “A Review of Evidence on the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Attention and Cognitive Control in Children.” Frontiers in Psychology 12 (February 2021): 611155. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.611155.
Wahanisa, Rofi, Rahmawati Prihastuty, and Muhammad Dzikirullah H. Noho. “Preventive Measures of Cyberbullying on Adolescents in Indonesia: A Legal Analysis.” Lentera Hukum 8, no. 2 (2021): 267. https://doi.org/10.19184/ejlh.v8i2.23503.
Wu, Jinsong, Song Guo, Huawei Huang, William Liu, and Yong Xiang. “Information and Communications Technologies for Sustainable Development Goals: State-of-the-Art, Needs and Perspectives.” IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials 20, no. 3 (2018): 2389–406. https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2018.2812301.
Yusrizal, Adwani, Rizanizarli, and Yanis Rinaldi. “Defamation and Insult Via Digital Media in Indonesia: The Islamic Law and Human Rights Perspective.” Journal of Law and Sustainable Development 11, no. 7 (2023): e1016. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i7.1016.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24815/kanun.v27i2.45738
Article Metrics
Abstract view : 125 timesPDF - 46 times
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.










