Indonesia’s Push for Transparency in Digital Platform Governance

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is preparing a new approach to governing digital platforms, Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria announced at the UNESCO Capacity Building Workshops for Southeast Asian Regulators, Digital Platforms, and Civil Society Forum in Semarang on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Nezar said the new framework will be more open, measurable, and inclusive, and will involve multiple stakeholders in digital governance. He stressed that the challenge in Southeast Asia is not simply drafting regulations, but ensuring that human rights, transparency, and accountability are upheld.

“The approach to regulating these platforms must be balanced. It must protect citizens’ rights while ensuring platforms remain safe and secure for everyone,” Nezar stated in a written release received in Jakarta on Friday, May 8, 2026.

He warned that an excessive focus on security could erode civil liberties, while unchecked freedom without governance risks fueling disinformation and misinformation. “The regulator’s role is to balance these two. Regulation alone cannot create a healthy digital ecosystem,” he said.

Indonesia’s new governance model is built on three pillars: strengthening the legal framework, providing systemic protection for vulnerable groups, and promoting digital literacy alongside multi-stakeholder dialogue.

Nezar cited updates to the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law) and the Personal Data Protection Law (PDP Law) as examples of progress. He also highlighted Government Regulation No. 17/2025, known as PP Tunas, as a foundation for piloting the new approach.

“I think Indonesia is ready to test this model based on PP Tunas. We will then share the findings with our ASEAN partners,” Nezar said. (Misni Parjiati/Lasti Martina)