The government is once again considering restrictions—or even a total ban—on games deemed to contain violent content. This time, the spotlight is on Roblox, a globally popular platform criticized by Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti for allegedly exposing children to violent actions like body slamming or foul language. State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi added that the government may block the platform if it is proven to pose harm to children. While well-intentioned, such a blanket approach oversimplifies a complex issue and risks stifling creativity and innovation in the country’s digital landscape.

Netizens harshly commented economic data from BPS. They mostly do not believe the data presented, some accusing the agency of fabricating the numbers to please the President. In the previous article, we have shown the combined declining sales of tire producers listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), and that they added only 26 new staffs in the first six months of the year.

Thanks to data about unexpectedly high growth of investment from Rosan P Roeslani (minister of investment) in the second quarter, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) issued a surprising verdict: GDP expanded by 5.12% in the quarter. More questioned these sets of data. 

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) claimed Indonesian GDP growth of 5.12% in the second quarter (year-on-year), far above most predictions (around 4.8%), pointing to expansion of government spending, higher investment, and stronger export. While most economic sectors were under pressure, agriculture, particularly palm oil, recorded strong performance.

Three integrated poultry players listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) reported substantial decline in operating profit on overall lower sales and squeezed margins. They, however, spent more for investments and hire more workers in the first half of 2025.

The recent issuance of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 81/2025 by President Prabowo Subianto marks a bold move in Indonesia’s healthcare landscape. The regulation provides a Rp30,012,000 monthly allowance for specialist doctors deployed to frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped regions (DTPK), targeting an initial group of around 1,100 doctors.

Eight of 11 retailers listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), including food and beverage franchises, cut workforce in the first six months of 2025 as some continue to streamline operations and defend margins amidst lower sales and higher labour costs, our research shows. 

Majority shareholder, represented by sovereign wealth fund Danantara, has dismissed Darmawan Junaidi as president director of Bank Mandiri (BMRI), the largest bank Indonesia by total assets. Darmawan is replaced by Riduan, who was vice president director of the bank.

The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) is now in the process of reactivating more than 25 million dormant bank accounts after previously suspending them without prior notice. The sudden suspension has led to public panic nonetheless, and the government has come under scrutiny for its arbitrary decisions in regard to the rights of the people.

Shares of Telkom (TLKM) and Indosat (ISAT) gained significantly this morning (Friday, Aug 1) despite weak performance in the first half of 2025, presumably due to economic slowdown and squeezed purchasing power.