TLDRs;
- Indonesia will begin enforcing the Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) in January 2026 with strict penalties for violations.
- Developers mislabeling age ratings risk reclassification or permanent takedown of their games.
- The new rules apply to all platforms, including foreign titles and user-generated content.
- eKYC tools like Privy and GLAIR will support real-time age verification to protect minors.
Indonesia is tightening control over its growing video game market through a new regulatory framework that will hold developers accountable for age-rating violations starting January 2026.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) confirmed that any game found to have an incorrect or misleading age classification under the Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) could face sanctions ranging from reclassification to permanent removal from all platforms.
Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, the Director General of Digital Ecosystem at Komdigi, said the move aims to protect young players from exposure to violent, explicit, or gambling-related content.
“Games with severe content violations may be permanently taken down,” Abdullah warned, emphasizing the government’s commitment to building a safer digital entertainment environment.
New Rules Apply Across All Platforms
The IGRS will categorize all games into five distinct age brackets including 3+, 7+, 13+, 15+, and 18+. Each title must clearly display the appropriate rating, both on packaging and within digital storefronts. These standards will apply not only to Indonesian game developers but also to foreign publishers and user-generated content accessible in the country.
Developers will first be required to self-assess their games before submitting results for official verification by Komdigi. Authorities will then conduct random or targeted audits to ensure compliance. Games that fail verification, or are found to contain banned material, risk immediate suspension or takedown.
“Every game available to Indonesian users, whether on console, mobile, or PC, must adhere to local regulations.”Abdullah further noted, adding that the ministry is working with digital platforms to ensure consistent enforcement.
eKYC Tools to Enforce Age Checks
To strengthen age verification mechanisms, Indonesia plans to integrate the IGRS with electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) systems. These digital ID tools, offered by firms like Privy, GLAIR, and Fazpass, will allow game services to verify users’ ages in real time.
Privy, one of Indonesia’s leading providers, already serves more than 53 million verified users and 57,000 businesses. GLAIR, on the other hand, specializes in optical character recognition (OCR) and anti-spoofing technology, while Fazpass connects directly with the national civil registry (Dukcapil) for document verification.
These integrations will enable facial recognition, liveness detection, and document authenticity checks—tools expected to make it harder for minors to access games with age restrictions.
Curbing ID Sharing and Loopholes
A key challenge for the new system will be preventing adults from lending their national ID cards (KTP) to minors to bypass age limits.
Komdigi officials have warned that such practices weaken the system’s safeguards. Parents and guardians are being urged to play an active role in monitoring their children’s digital activity.
While technology can block underage access, officials argue that parental cooperation remains essential.
“Digital systems alone cannot replace responsible supervision,” Abdullah said, urging families to take the IGRS seriously.
Regulatory Momentum Builds After TikTok Case
The ministry’s renewed emphasis on digital governance follows a recent high-profile incident involving TikTok, which had its operating license temporarily suspended earlier this month.
Last week, authorities reinstated the platform’s license only after it complied with government data requests tied to livestream activity and user monetization.
Analysts see the new IGRS rules as part of a broader strategy to assert regulatory sovereignty over foreign tech platforms operating in Indonesia. The law reinforces the government’s stance that all digital content, whether social media, streaming, or gaming, must align with national standards.
