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Government expresses support for publishers' rights regulation
The government has expressed its support for a draft regulation that would make news aggregators on digital platforms pay publishers for displayed content, in a move aimed at providing a level playing field between domestic news industries and digital platforms.
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left), accompanied by Press Council chairman Yosep Adi Prasetyo (center) and the 2019 National Press Day’s (HPN) organizing committee head, Margiono, shows journalists the Press Freedom Award he received during the HPN celebration in Surabaya, East Java, in 2019. (Antara/Zabur Karuru)
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he government has expressed its support for a draft regulation that would make news aggregators on digital platforms pay publishers for displayed content, in a move aimed at providing a level playing field between domestic news industries and digital platforms.
The proposed regulation, which was drafted by the Press Council and media associations, was designed to address the complaint of publishers that have been losing advertising revenue to online aggregators. They claim tech giants are benefiting from using news content in search results or other features without providing the publishers proper compensation.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said the government was committed to providing protection to mass media organizations that produce news content while maintaining responsible press freedom and strengthening the role and position of the press in running their business.
He added that the commitment was the realization of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s remarks on National Press Day, which is commemorated every Feb. 9. During his speech, the President ordered relevant stakeholders to formulate regulations governing the relationship between media companies and digital platforms.
“The news publishers provide quality information with attention to quality journalism and democratizing the flow of information, while the owners of the digital platforms aim to profit as much [as possible],” Mahfud said via teleconference on Tuesday as part of a National Press Day celebration.
“That's why the President ordered relevant ministries and institutions to formulate a regulation that will govern the relationship between publisher and digital platform.”
Mahfud said the government was still considering whether to issue a law or a government regulation based on existing laws, such as the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, the Broadcasting Law or the Press Law.
