Indonesia Blocks Yahoo, Paypal, Gaming Websites Over License Breaches

FILE PHOTO: The PayPal app logo seen on a mobile phone in this illustration photo October 16, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/IllustrationREUTERS
FILE PHOTO: The PayPal app logo seen on a mobile phone in this illustration photo October 16, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/IllustrationREUTERS
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Indonesia Blocks Yahoo, Paypal, Gaming Websites Over License Breaches

FILE PHOTO: The PayPal app logo seen on a mobile phone in this illustration photo October 16, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/IllustrationREUTERS
FILE PHOTO: The PayPal app logo seen on a mobile phone in this illustration photo October 16, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White/IllustrationREUTERS

Indonesia has blocked search engine website Yahoo, payments firm Paypal and several gaming websites due to failure to comply with licensing rules, an official said on Saturday, sparking a backlash in social media, Reuters reported.

Registration is required under rules released in late November 2020 and will give authorities broad powers to compel platforms to disclose data of certain users, and take down content deemed unlawful or that "disturbs public order" within four hours if urgent and 24 hours if not.

Several tech companies had rushed to register in days leading to the deadline, which had been extended until Friday, including Alphabet Inc's, Meta Platforms Inc's Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and Amazon.com Inc.

Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan, a senior official at Indonesia's Communications Ministry, said in a text message websites that have been blocked include Yahoo, Paypal and gaming sites like Steam, Dota2, Counter-Strike and EpicGames, among others.

Paypal, Yahoo's parent private equity firm Apollo Global Management and U.S. game developer Valve Corporation, which runs Steam, Dota and Counter-Strike, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. EpicGames could not be reached for comment.

Hashtags like "BlokirKominfo" (block Communication Ministry), Epic Games and Paypal trended on Indonesian Twitter, with many writing messages criticizing the government's move as hurting Indonesia's online gaming industry and freelance workers who use Paypal.

Pangerapan did not respond to a request for comment.

With an estimated 191 million internet users and a young, social-media savvy population, the Southeast Asian nation is a significant market for a host of tech platforms.



Pearson and Google Team up to Bring AI Learning Tools to Classrooms

The Google logo is seen outside the company's offices in London, Britain, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
The Google logo is seen outside the company's offices in London, Britain, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
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Pearson and Google Team up to Bring AI Learning Tools to Classrooms

The Google logo is seen outside the company's offices in London, Britain, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
The Google logo is seen outside the company's offices in London, Britain, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso

Pearson has entered a multi-year partnership with Alphabet's Google cloud service, providing students with AI learning tools that also make teachers' jobs easier, the British education company said on Thursday.

The tie-up will focus on creating personalized learning tools powered by Google's advanced artificial intelligence models for students in primary and secondary school, Reuters reported.

The tools will adapt to each student's pace and needs, while also helping teachers track performance and tailor lessons, the companies said in a statement.

Pearson Chief Executive Omar Abbosh said AI could help reshape school education by replacing uniform teaching methods with personalized learning paths tailored to individual students.

Pearson has also signed multi-year AI-focused partnerships with Microsoft and Amazon's cloud computing services, as part of its efforts to personalize learning and offer more digital education tools.