Indonesia asks Google, Facebook to sign new rules – or get banned
Indonesia on July 18 urged tech companies including Google and Meta, the owner the Facebook brand, to register under new licensing rules within two days or run the risk of having their platforms blocked.
The requirement to register is part of a set of rules, first released in November 2020, that will allow authorities to order platforms to take down content deemed unlawful, or that “disturbs public order” within four hours if considered urgent, and 24 hours if not.
The latest deadline to accept the rules officially ends on July 20, 2022.
Indonesia’s information and communications ministry is asking local and international Internet services to officially register as an Electronic Systems Provider (Penyelenggara Sistem Elektronik, or PSE) with the ministry. Failure to comply would result in an operational ban in the country, effective July 21.
Instagram, Netflix WhatsApp also still have to accept new rules
Besides Google – including its service YouTube – and Meta, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Netflix and gaming providers PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends are among the big names which have failed to register so far.
The latter two mobile games have said they are working on their PSE registration, but there is no word yet for intent of compliance by Meta and Google.
In turn, as of July 18, more than 5,900 domestic companies – include local apps Gojek, Tokopedia, Traveloka – and 108 foreign companies had registered, including short-video app TikTok, music streaming firm Spotify and social media reference platform Linktree, according to the ministry.
Total block doubtful
Despite the threat, some analysts doubt whether Indonesian authorities would immediately block platforms operated by non-compliant companies, especially given how widely used some of the platforms are in Indonesia, including by state officials.
With a youthful, digitally savvy population of 270 million, Indonesia is a top-10 market globally by number of users for a host of social media companies, including TikTok, Twitter and Facebook.
The measure also contradicts Indonesia’s attempt to attract more digital nomads to the country with a special long-stay visa. Without access to essential web services, practically all forms of online-based productivity are not possible.
“Immoral” and “negative” content
The information and communications ministry has been known to ban apps and platforms on legal and/or moral grounds in recent years. These include gay dating app Blued, which was banned for its “immoral” LGBT content, TikTok for its general “negative content” and Telegram for allegedly facilitating the spread of radical content, though the bans for the latter two have since been lifted.
But in fact, the ministry’s ban threat is certainly nothing new, as companies have missed past deadlines without any notable consequences.
Indonesia on July 18 urged tech companies including Google and Meta, the owner the Facebook brand, to register under new licensing rules within two days or run the risk of having their platforms blocked. The requirement to register is part of a set of rules, first released in November 2020, that will allow authorities to order platforms to take down content deemed unlawful, or that “disturbs public order” within four hours if considered urgent, and 24 hours if not. The latest deadline to accept the rules officially ends on July 20, 2022. Indonesia’s information and communications ministry is asking local...
Indonesia on July 18 urged tech companies including Google and Meta, the owner the Facebook brand, to register under new licensing rules within two days or run the risk of having their platforms blocked.
The requirement to register is part of a set of rules, first released in November 2020, that will allow authorities to order platforms to take down content deemed unlawful, or that “disturbs public order” within four hours if considered urgent, and 24 hours if not.
The latest deadline to accept the rules officially ends on July 20, 2022.
Indonesia’s information and communications ministry is asking local and international Internet services to officially register as an Electronic Systems Provider (Penyelenggara Sistem Elektronik, or PSE) with the ministry. Failure to comply would result in an operational ban in the country, effective July 21.
Instagram, Netflix WhatsApp also still have to accept new rules
Besides Google – including its service YouTube – and Meta, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Netflix and gaming providers PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends are among the big names which have failed to register so far.
The latter two mobile games have said they are working on their PSE registration, but there is no word yet for intent of compliance by Meta and Google.
In turn, as of July 18, more than 5,900 domestic companies – include local apps Gojek, Tokopedia, Traveloka – and 108 foreign companies had registered, including short-video app TikTok, music streaming firm Spotify and social media reference platform Linktree, according to the ministry.
Total block doubtful
Despite the threat, some analysts doubt whether Indonesian authorities would immediately block platforms operated by non-compliant companies, especially given how widely used some of the platforms are in Indonesia, including by state officials.
With a youthful, digitally savvy population of 270 million, Indonesia is a top-10 market globally by number of users for a host of social media companies, including TikTok, Twitter and Facebook.
The measure also contradicts Indonesia’s attempt to attract more digital nomads to the country with a special long-stay visa. Without access to essential web services, practically all forms of online-based productivity are not possible.
“Immoral” and “negative” content
The information and communications ministry has been known to ban apps and platforms on legal and/or moral grounds in recent years. These include gay dating app Blued, which was banned for its “immoral” LGBT content, TikTok for its general “negative content” and Telegram for allegedly facilitating the spread of radical content, though the bans for the latter two have since been lifted.
But in fact, the ministry’s ban threat is certainly nothing new, as companies have missed past deadlines without any notable consequences.
