The Indonesian government is contemplating imposing restrictions or an outright ban on certain video games, including popular titles like PUBG: Battlegrounds, in the wake of a recent school explosion that injured nearly 100 people in Jakarta.

The move comes after President Prabowo Subianto directed his cabinet to investigate potential measures, driven by police findings related to the incident. Authorities are currently focusing on the alleged involvement of a student in the blast, which occurred at a school mosque in North Jakarta last week.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi confirmed the government’s review of these restrictions, explaining the central concern is the psychological impact of violent games. “We’re thinking about restrictions because, in these games, there are many different kinds of weapons. It’s easy to learn. And, psychologically, it makes violence a normal thing,” Hadi stated. While the specific nature of the restrictions remains undefined, he cited the South Korean-developed title PUBG as an example of a game that could face new regulations.

This internal review in Indonesia aligns with a broader international trend of increasing scrutiny on virtual environments. The article noted that Iraq recently banned the user-generated platform Roblox, citing concerns over child safety, exposure to exploitation, and content deemed “incompatible with social values and traditions.” Turkey had also restricted access to Roblox earlier in August 2024 for similar child protection concerns.