RI asks Apple, Google remove Hornet app

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has asked Google and Apple to remove the Hornet application from their Indonesian app marketplaces, following public concerns over its alleged association with LGBTIQ+ campaigns.

"We have asked the App Store and Play Store to immediately delist the application. This is part of enforcing regulations against platforms that fail to meet their obligations in Indonesia," Director General of Digital Space Supervision Alexander Sabar said in a press statement in Jakarta.

Through a press release cited in Jakarta on Saturday, he confirmed that the Komdigi Ministry had received community reports concerning the application, which is allegedly presented as a “gay social network” on the Google Play Store.

“We are responding to the concerns to reiterate that it is mandatory for every digital platform operating in Indonesia to comply with our values, norms, and regulations,” he affirmed.

Sabar added that the case also reflects broader non-compliance with Indonesia's digital regulations.

“Hornet has never been registered as an Electronic System Provider in Indonesia in the first place. This is a compliance issue that we must follow up on in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said.

On that note, he underscored the need for both Google and Apple to sever access to the application for Indonesian users by removing it from their respective application stores.

He further stressed that the ministry's supervision extends beyond monitoring online content to ensuring that digital platform operators strictly comply with Indonesia's electronic system regulations.

"In principle, any party wishing to provide digital services to the Indonesian public must operate responsibly and comply with applicable regulations," Sabar said.

The ministry, Sabar says, remains committed to following up on public reports of digital platform violations to help maintain a safe digital environment in Indonesia.

Related news: Indonesia pilots digital system to improve welfare aid targeting

Translator: L. Kristianti, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
Copyright © ANTARA 2026