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Businesses oppose plan to tighten curbs on online platforms
Businesses have voiced concern over government plans to subject a hefty fine to internet and social media companies operating in Indonesia for noncompliance in taking down unlawful content.
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A smartphone is being operated in front of the Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon logos in Hédé-Bazouges, western France, on Sept. 28, 2017, (AFP/Damien Meyer)
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usinesses have voiced their opposition to government plans to introduce tough new curbs for online platforms, arguing that the move would hurt the country's digital economic growth and deter investment.
The plans are outlined in a proposed government regulation (PP) on non-tax state revenue (PNBP). The new rule is expected to impose fines ranging from Rp 12.5 million (US$871.83) to Rp 1.5 billion per "prohibited content" that platforms do not take down in time.
The Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the country's top business group, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that business had taken issue with the hefty fines, the absence of an appeal mechanism and the ambiguous definition of "prohibited content".
“Imposing such a large fine could hamper Indonesia's economic digital development,” said Kadin deputy chairman on communications and information, Firlie Ganinduto.
The new regulation states that private electronic system providers (ESP) have four hours to take down "urgent" unlawful content such as child pornography and 24 hours to take down other unlawful content, or the company will be penalized.
Read also: Govt to impose fines against ‘errant’ Big Tech
The scope of "unlawful content" also includes content deemed by the government to be a disturbance to "the community [and] public order" and educating netizens on how to access prohibited content, as defined though Communications and Information Ministerial Regulation No. 5/2020 on private ESPs.
