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Google promises to reject all political ads ahead of 2019: Minister
Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara said on Thursday that Google had agreed to help mitigate the potential for political conflicts in Indonesia and assured the government that it would not accept anypolitical advertisements ahead of the country’s 2019 general election.
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US tech giant Google, through its Asia Pacific president Karim Temsamani, has agreed not to accept political advertisements ahead of Indonesia's 2019 general election. (AFP/Lionel Bonaventure )
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ommunication and Information Minister Rudiantara said on Thursday that Google had agreed to help mitigate the potential for political conflicts in Indonesia and assured the government that it would not accept any political advertisements ahead of the country’s 2019 general election.
Rudiantara said Google Asia Pacific president Karim Temsamani made the promise during the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN in Vietnam.
The WEF on ASEAN 2018 runs from Sept. 11 to 13 in Hanoi.
"Google has decided to close their door to political ads, especially prior to the presidential election next year," said Rudiantara, adding that the government would also talk to other digital platforms on the issue.
He said the government appreciated the US tech giant's decision, which was in keeping with Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.
Rudiantara said he also discussed with Google how to prevent the spread of fake online news ahead of the 2019 elections.
Indonesia is holding its legislative and presidential elections in April 2019. Incumbent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who has chosen Muslim cleric Ma’ruf Amin as his running mate, will have a "rematch" against his 2014 rival Prabowo Subianto, who is vying for the presidency alongside running mate Sandiaga Uno. (bbn)
