September 2, 2025 | 05:24 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has acknowledged the impact on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) following TikTok’s decision to suspend its live broadcast feature in Indonesia.
The platform’s popular live streaming service has been widely used by MSMEs to showcase and sell products.
“We understand there is an impact on MSMEs and on community activities that rely on the live broadcast feature. We will continue building communication on this matter,” Deputy Minister Nezar Patria said during an interview at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
Nezar noted that TikTok still offers other features that businesses can use, but stressed the need to ensure that the live service, once restored, can operate safely for both entrepreneurs and the public.
“In our discussions, we will explore how the live broadcast feature can be used securely and responsibly by MSMEs and the wider community,” he added.
According to a 2024 survey by Ipsos Indonesia, live streaming contributed to a 73 percent boost in e-commerce turnover in the third quarter of 2023. Ipsos Executive Director Andi Sukma previously highlighted that live sessions allow direct interaction between sellers and buyers, making it a powerful sales driver.
The Indonesian E-Commerce Association (idEA) echoed the concern. Deputy Chair Budi Primawan said many online sellers have been relying on TikTok Live to reach customers, meaning the suspension has inevitably disrupted transactions.
“E-commerce hasn’t come to a halt, but sellers are affected. We encourage them to maintain interaction with buyers through catalogs, app notifications, and other available features while waiting for TikTok Live to return,” Budi said on Monday, September 1, 2025.
TikTok clarified that the suspension was voluntary and not ordered by the Indonesian government. The platform cited escalating violence during recent demonstrations as the reason.
“We voluntarily suspended the TikTok Live feature for the next few days in Indonesia. We continue to remove content that violates our Community Guidelines and monitor the situation closely,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement received by Tempo on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
The company added that ongoing protests across Indonesia have been accompanied by rising violence. “We have taken additional safety measures to keep TikTok a secure and civil space,” the spokesperson said.
Communication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid confirmed TikTok’s move was voluntary. She emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto has assured the public that the government remains open to hearing people’s aspirations, including those expressed via social media.
“We saw TikTok’s notification that they voluntarily suspended the live feature. We hope this will not last long,” Meutya said at the Presidential Palace on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
Riri Rahayu and Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to the writing of this article.
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