Social media platform TikTok has temporarily suspended its live-streaming feature in Indonesia following violent protests sparked by the death of a man who was hit by a police vehicle.
In a statement shared on Saturday August 30, 2025, TikTok said it made the decision “out of an abundance of caution” to ensure user safety and to maintain a civil environment on the platform.
“Due to escalating violence during protests in Indonesia, we have voluntarily introduced additional safeguards to keep TikTok a safe and civil space. As a result, TikTok LIVE is temporarily suspended for a few days in Indonesia,” a spokesperson told AFP.
The protests erupted across major cities on Friday, including Jakarta and Makassar. In Makassar, a fire at a local council building claimed three lives, intensifying public anger.
Demonstrations continued into Saturday in cities such as Surabaya, as well as on the islands of Bali and Lombok.
Indonesia is one of TikTok’s largest markets, with over 100 million users. Many Indonesians use the platform for news, entertainment, and live interaction. On Saturday, users began noticing that the live-streaming feature had been disabled and shared their frustrations in videos posted to the app.
TikTok confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation and will decide on restoring the live feature based on how the protests unfold.
The protests began after a tragic incident in which a civilian was reportedly struck and killed by a police vehicle during a demonstration. The incident sparked nationwide outrage, prompting clashes between protestors and police.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether any police officers will be held accountable for the incident.
