The Indonesian National Police’s Densus 88 Anti-Terror Directorate has officially expressed its strong backing for the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ latest regulatory initiative aimed at curbing the unchecked use of digital devices among students. The endorsement follows the issuance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Secretary-General Circular Letter Number 19 of 2026, which introduces rigorous limitations on mobile phone usage within educational institutions operating under the ministry’s purview.
Law enforcement and counter-terrorism officials view this policy not merely as an administrative or disciplinary measure within schools, but as a critical, strategic barrier against the rising tide of digital radicalization. In recent years, security agencies have observed a concerning shift in how extremist networks operate, moving away from traditional physical recruitment toward sophisticated online operations designed to target and indoctrinate impressionable minors through social media platforms and messaging applications.
The Strategic Threat of Digital Radicalization
In an official statement released in Jakarta, the spokesperson for Densus 88 Anti-Terror, Commissioner Mayndra Eka Wardhana, emphasized that safeguarding the younger generation from the infiltration of terrorism and extremism must begin with strict, proactive measures implemented jointly by families and educational institutions.
According to security analysts and law enforcement briefings, extremist groups have increasingly leveraged the digital space as a primary recruitment ground. Unregulated internet access and prolonged, unsupervised screen time expose children and adolescents to targeted propaganda, radical ideological framing, and encrypted peer groups that promote violence and intolerance.
Commissioner Mayndra highlighted that the circular serves as concrete evidence of the government’s proactive stance on early-stage risk mitigation. By tightening control over when and how devices are accessed, the policy aims to systematically dismantle the pipelines through which extremist propaganda reaches young minds. Security officials have repeatedly warned that modern radicalization often begins with intense, prolonged digital indoctrination before culminating in real-world actions or violent incidents.
Lessons from Past Security Breaches
The urgency behind the new regulations is heavily informed by past security incidents that caught authorities and educators off guard. Security officials point to specific prior cases, such as the alarming radicalization incident detected at SMAN 72 in North Jakarta, as a stark warning sign. That particular case demonstrated how quickly online grooming and ideological subversion could take root among students if digital access remains completely unrestricted and unmonitored.
"This circular strengthens cross-sector collaboration between the Indonesian National Police and the government to narrow the operational space for radicalism within educational institutions," Commissioner Mayndra stated. "We cannot afford to let our guard down again. The case at SMAN 72 served as a severe alarm bell, proving that digital infiltration is real, pervasive, and dangerous."
Beyond counter-terrorism benefits, law enforcement officials also believe the regulation plays an indispensable role in restoring the traditional responsibilities of parents regarding digital oversight. By limiting device usage, children are encouraged to re-engage in healthy physical socialization, face-to-face communication, and extracurricular activities with peers and family members.
Scope of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Circular
The regulatory framework underpinning these security measures is extensive. The Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Circular Letter Number 19 of 2026 applies broadly across all religious educational units under its administration. This encompasses Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), madrasahs, religious education centers for various faiths including Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Confucian institutions, as well as theological schools and regional religious learning hubs across the archipelago.
Kamaruddin Amin, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, clarified that the regulatory framework is not designed to isolate students from technological advancements or digital literacy. Rather, the policy seeks to cultivate a responsible, disciplined approach to technology where digital tools are utilized purposefully for academic enhancement rather than habitual, unfocused consumption.
"We do not want to distance our children from technology," Kamaruddin explained. "What we want to build is the capacity to use technology in a healthy, safe, wise, and responsible manner. Mobile devices can still serve as valuable learning aids, but their deployment must be targeted and proportional."
Comprehensive Guidelines for Schools and Families
The newly enacted circular outlines specific, enforceable protocols for both the school environment and the home front, establishing a dual-layer supervision model designed to close monitoring gaps.
Within school grounds, students are strictly prohibited from using mobile devices unless explicitly instructed by a teacher for designated learning activities. Phones are permitted only before or after formal instructional hours, or during genuine emergencies managed through teachers or homeroom supervisors.
These restrictions apply equally to educators and school staff members. Teachers and administrative personnel are barred from using personal mobile devices during teaching and learning activities unless the usage is directly tied to the instructional process.
To ensure compliance, educational institutions are authorized to provide designated lockers or secure storage facilities in classrooms and staff rooms. Alternatively, teachers or homeroom supervisors may collect all student devices at the beginning of the school day and return them only upon dismissal, ensuring the devices remain powered off or set to airplane mode during storage.
Equally crucial are the stipulations governing the home environment. Recognizing that school hours account for only a portion of a child’s day, the regulation directs parents and legal guardians to strictly limit non-academic screen time at home to a maximum of two hours per day.
Furthermore, parents are strongly encouraged to implement robust digital safety measures, including the activation of parental control software. This involves restricting age-appropriate content, regulating application downloads and purchases, enforcing safe search protocols, and managing overall screen time limits. To facilitate active supervision, the guidelines mandate that device usage at home should ideally take place in open, shared spaces—such as living rooms or family rooms—rather than in private areas like bedrooms where monitoring is difficult.
Broader Implications for National Security and Child Welfare
The convergence of educational policy and counter-terrorism strategy highlights a growing recognition among Indonesian authorities that national security begins with foundational social structures. As cyber threats and online extremism continue to evolve globally, the protection of youth requires a unified front combining parental vigilance, pedagogical oversight, and law enforcement intelligence.
Public policy analysts note that while enforcing mobile phone restrictions in schools may present logistical challenges for administrators and adjustments for students, the long-term societal benefits far outweigh the operational friction. By curbing unsupervised digital exposure, Indonesia aims to shield its future generations not only from cyberbullying and internet addiction, but more critically, from the insidious threat of violent extremism operating in the digital shadows.
As implementation rolls out across religious educational institutions nationwide, federal agencies, regional governments, and educational boards will closely monitor compliance levels and assess the policy’s effectiveness in fostering a safer, more balanced learning environment for students across the country.
