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News firms push for a rule on ads-revenue sharing and algorithm in Big Tech
Media firms are pushing for a rule to give more responsibility to tech platforms to help safeguard the quality and well-being of the industry.
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A journalist walks past the Press Council Building on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, on Feb. 6, 2017. The Press Council issued a list of 74 press companies that have been verified to promote press professionalism in Indonesia. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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ndonesian media players are pressing for the long-awaited media sustainability bill to include more responsibilities for big-tech platforms such as transparency in ads revenue-sharing and algorithm tweaks, which are currently absent from the draft already prepared by the government.
Currently, there are two competing drafts being discussed, one prepared by the Communications and Information Ministry and the other by members of the Press Council together with media associations, both of which were submitted to the State Secretariat in late January.
A seven-page ministry draft seen by The Jakarta Post only comprises "agreements on remuneration or other forms" of compensation and was considered by many to be “too simplified”, whereas the media community expects a “clearer legal umbrella”.
The industry-forwarded proposal seen by the Post, meanwhile, stipulates sharing of advertising revenue and algorithm transparency, among other reforms on top of a mere remuneration arrangement.
The ministry’s draft said negotiations between media and tech firms would be mediated by the council, but no specific mechanism was outlined.
Meanwhile, the industry’s draft mentioned platforms could make a blanket initial price offering, which if rejected by news outlets could be continued with negotiations up to a dispute settlement involving an independent third party to ensure there would be a binding result regardless of the outcome.
Agus Sudibyo, former Press Council member, who was involved in formulating the industry’s proposal, said the difference between the two drafts was caused by the government's assumption that the negotiation between local media companies and digital platforms would only relate to the economic value of news.
