TikTok, a popular video-sharing and live-streaming app, recently announced that it had removed the “ngemis (begging) online” content at the behest of the Communications and Information Ministry (Kominfo).
“We have received a request from Kominfo to take down substances and we have already taken proper action,” a TikTok representative said, as quoted by Kompas.
Recently, the platform was in the spotlight after a video went viral from a recorded live stream of an elderly individual bathing in mud to collect gifts from the crowd in exchange for money, which is known as “ngemis online.”
According to the Communications and Information Ministry director general of public information and communication, Usman Kansong, the issue of removing “ngemis online” was based on a letter issued by the social affairs minister (Kemensos), Tri Rismaharini.
According to the letter issued by Kemensos, the content of showing an elderly taking a mud bath was regarded as exploitation of the elderly.
Kompas reported that Sari, an “online beggar,” said during a single broadcasting session she made at least Rp 9 million ($600). Sari would shiver through two hours of mud bathing in preparation for a single streaming session. Previously, Sari did the broadcasts from a channel called Sultan Intan. The account’s owner would get a portion of the 55-year-old’s earnings.
The account owner, Sultan Akhyar, has apologized for his action, as reported by Okezone.
“I apologize for everything I did about the viral video [mud bath],” the 30-year-old West Nusa Tenggara native said, as quoted by Okezone. He went on to say that other content creators should refrain from following in his footsteps.
Moreover, Usman further added that if any platform displays content comparable to “ngemis online,” Kominfo will take the same action.
TikTok has also encouraged users to report videos that violate the platform’s community standards.
“We are continuously trying to keep TikTok a safe and friendly place for everyone through rules, procedures, education and enforcement of the TikTok Community Guidelines,” the TikTok Indonesia representative said, as quoted by Kompas.
The representative added that the “security team monitors comments from community members proactively and will take appropriate steps against reported content.”
