Days after banning the iPhone 16 in the country, Indonesia moved to block the sale of Google Pixel smartphones. The decision underlines the government’s increased scrutiny of foreign smartphone makers and their compliance with local regulations. The Indonesian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology cited reasons for the ban, including concerns over compliance with local production regulations and the requirement for manufacturers to follow the country’s standards for technology and safety. This regulatory environment is part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to encourage domestic manufacturing and protect local businesses in the competitive technology sector.

The Indonesian Industry Ministry has announced that Google’s smartphones cannot be sold in the country unless they meet regulations that mandate that 40 percent of their content be locally sourced. Google must secure local content certification before resuming sales, according to spokesperson Fabry Hendry Antoine Arief. “The local content requirements and related policies are designed to ensure fairness for all investors in Indonesia and enhance value creation while strengthening domestic industry,” he explained to local media.

The ban on Google Pixel comes shortly after Indonesia restricted the sale of Apple’s latest flagship, the iPhone 16. The iPhone bans were largely motivated by similar concerns about compliance with local manufacturing requirements. The Indonesian government has been vocal about its desire for technology companies to set up production facilities within the country, arguing that this would create jobs and boost the local economy. The restrictions are seen as a way to ensure that foreign companies contribute to Indonesia’s economic growth.

So far, Apple has invested Rs 1.48 trillion of the committed Rs 1.71 trillion, leaving a shortfall of Rs 230 billion. This gap influences the issuance of TKDN (Domestic Component Level) certification, which mandates a 40 percent local content requirement for foreign devices sold in Indonesia. The situation was further heightened following Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent visit to Jakarta, where he met with President Joko Widodo to discuss manufacturing prospects. However, unless Apple fulfills its pledge to further invest in Indonesian facilities, including the establishment of local Apple Academies for R&D, the future of the iPhone 16 in the Indonesian market is in limbo.

Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how long the ban will last and whether it will prompt other foreign manufacturers to reconsider their strategies in Indonesia. Government attitudes toward foreign tech companies may either encourage them to invest in local manufacturing or lead them to seek markets with fewer restrictions. As the situation evolves, both consumers and industry stakeholders will keep a close eye on any changes in the regulatory environment that may impact the future of smartphone sales in Indonesia.