iPhone 16 banned in Indonesia, government says using it is 'illegal'

Indonesia has banned the sales and operation of Apple ’s latest iPhone 16 within the country, calling its use illegal. That means Apple and its partner retailers cannot sell the iPhone 16 in the island country. Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Indonesia’s Industry Minister, has also warned customers against buying the device from abroad and using it in the country as doing that would violate the law.

Why is the iPhone 16 ‘illegal’ in Indonesia?

According to the minister, Apple did not seek due certification for the iPhone 16 before it was sold and operated in Indonesia. He cited Apple’s unfulfilled investment commitments in Indonesia, which were part of the certification process. The company has invested IDR 1.48 trillion (roughly Rs 793 crore) but IDR 230 billion is still pending.

“We, the Ministry of Industry, are yet to be able to issue permits for the iPhone 16 because there are still commitments that Apple must realise,” said Kartasasmita. He told local media that the extension of the TKDN (equivalent to India’s BSI certificate) certification is “still pending, awaiting further investment realisation from Apple.”

The TKDN (Domestic Component Level) certification requires products sold within the country to have 40 per cent local content. The Indonesian government also linked the certification requirements to investments from Apple towards establishing research and development centres, called Apple Academics, across the country.

Apple’s alleged non-compliance with Indonesia’s certification standards is why Kartasasmita has termed the use of the iPhone 16 as ‘illegal’. “If there is an iPhone 16 that can operate in Indonesia, that means that I can say, the device is illegal. Do report it to us,” he said.

Apple’s push in Indonesia

While Apple has not publicly acknowledged the ban, CEO Tim Cook visited Indonesia’s capital Jakarta earlier this year, where he reportedly discussed setting up manufacturing units with President Joko Widodo. Cook told the President that Apple would “look at” manufacturing in the country as the iPhone maker is working to reduce its reliance on China. Apple has shifted production lines of its flagship phones from China to India over the past few years, while other products such as MacBook, iPad, and Apple Watch are also slowly getting their production lines set up in countries like Vietnam.