Indonesia Blocks TikTok Live and Short Videos

Published: 2025-08-31  |  Source: TrustPositif

Today, Indonesian President instructed security forces to strictly take action against mass protests. In parallel, the government also announced a decisive measure: blocking TikTok Live streaming and restricting access to short video content in Indonesia.

Why TikTok Is Being Targeted

Authorities argue that TikTok Live has been widely used to broadcast mass demonstrations and mobilize people in real time. To maintain public order, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) added TikTok’s content delivery domains, such as v3.tiktokcdn.com and v16.tiktokcdn.com, into the TrustPositif blacklist system.

How the Blocking Mechanism Works

The blocking process in Indonesia relies on a centralized system known as TrustPositif. This system maintains a blacklist of domains and URLs deemed to violate national regulations. Once a domain is flagged as “Ada” (meaning it exists in the blacklist), all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and data centers are required to enforce restrictions.

The methods commonly used include:

  • DNS blocking – preventing the resolution of TikTok CDN domains.
  • SNI filtering – inspecting HTTPS traffic and terminating connections containing blocked domains.
  • IP blocking – stopping traffic to TikTok’s CDN servers via routing rules.

Impact

This block means users in Indonesia will not be able to access TikTok Live streams or certain short videos, as the underlying content delivery network (CDN) requests are filtered at the ISP level. The measure is effective nationwide because all ISPs are obliged to synchronize with the TrustPositif database.

Conclusion

Indonesia’s decision to block TikTok Live and short videos highlights the increasing use of centralized digital censorship mechanisms in times of political tension. By embedding the ban into TrustPositif, the government ensures that no operator can bypass the restriction. For everyday users, this represents another reminder of how digital freedoms are closely tied to national political decisions.