Big Tech

TikTok, Meta Endure Tougher Asia Crackdown as US Efforts Stall

A man browses Facebook on his smartphone in Jakarta. Some 40% of Facebook’s user accounts globally are in Southeast and South Asia.Photographer: Garry Lotulung/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

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By Newley Purnell

May 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM EDT

Some of the toughest new laws attempting to rein in TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat aren’t coming from Washington or Brussels. They’re emerging from capitals such as Canberra, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

Governments across the Asia-Pacific region are leading the global charge to protect children from online harms, presenting an unprecedented challenge to the likes of ByteDance Ltd., Meta Platforms Inc. and Snap Inc. in markets with some of their largest and most youthful user bases.