“As part of this step, we have voluntarily suspended TikTok Live in Indonesia for the next few days. We are also continuously removing content that violates Community Guidelines and monitoring the ongoing situation,” the statement added.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, reportedly adopted a similar policy.
Instagram Live was also disabled, leaving users unable to conduct live broadcasts.
As a result, social media platforms were flooded with complaints, particularly from those who regularly streamed demonstrations in real time.
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This policy is not unprecedented.
Live streaming suspensions have frequently been implemented in other countries during escalating conflicts or mass protests.
The rationale is simple: to prevent hoaxes, provocation, and uncontrolled flows of information that could worsen the situation. However, this time, the context is different.
Many observers argue the move could erode the public’s right to access transparent, on-the-ground information.
As of this report, TikTok has not announced when the Live feature will be reactivated.
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Instagram has taken the same stance, leaving many users disappointed.
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Although TikTok and Instagram claimed the suspension of Live features was for safety reasons, the move has faced harsh criticism.
