Indonesia Bans DuckDuckGo, Alleging It Can Be Used to Access Pornography

Indonesia Bans DuckDuckGo, Alleging It Can Be Used to Access Pornography

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian government has outlawed the search engine DuckDuckGo, claiming it can be used to access pornography.

Indonesia banned the privacy-enhancing search engine on Friday as part of a “War on Gambling” launched by the populist government of President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi. That campaign has expanded to include any content the Muslim-majority country considers obscene and illegal, resulting in bans on Reddit and Vimeo, Reuters reported.

Indonesia also blocks Steam and PayPal, considering them officially “problematic online platforms.”

Communications Ministry official Usman Kansong told Reuters that DuckDuckGo was blocked “because of the many complaints made to us about the rampant online gambling and pornography content in its search results.”

Kansong did not comment on how DuckDuckGo differed from Google in that respect.

As XBIZ reported, in June, when X clarified its standing rules about explicit content, Indonesia’s Communications and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi responded by warning the Musk-led platform that it must “abide by the country’s laws, which prohibit the dissemination of pornographic content, if it does not want to be sanctioned or banned.”

Under the country’s harsh 2008 obscenity law, Law 44, Indonesia — including Bali, a popular destination for tourists, expats and influencers — has also become notorious for recurring arrests of locals and foreigners for making and sharing adult content online.

“The country’s ambiguous pornography laws have led to the jailing of people over adult content and leaked sex tapes, including celebrities,” noted news site Coconuts Bali last year, when an Instagram influencer was detained for alleged indecent content. “Even so, some Indonesians still break the law, with a number of content makers active on adult platforms such as OnlyFans, which is popular among sex workers.”

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Show More