Indonesia cracks down on online gambling, blocks over 1.3mil sites
These actions, carried out between Oct 20, 2024, and April 23, 2025, aim to enforce digital laws in collaboration with the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK).
"These figures reflect a real threat in the digital space that disrupts national security and public order," said Communication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid in a statement on May 3.
To combat harmful content, the ministry launched the Content Moderation Compliance System (SAMAN), requiring platforms to act on high-risk content within four hours and other harmful content within 24 hours.
Additionally, the government has introduced PP Tunas, a regulation focusing on child protection in the digital space. - BERNAMA
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The Star
25-07-2025
- The Star
Indonesia-US trade deal possible threat to data sovereignty
JAKARTA: A trade agreement between Indonesia and the United States set to include provisions on personal data transfers has raised alarms about the potential undermining of Indonesia's data sovereignty. According to a joint statement on the framework for the prospective settlement published on the White House website on Tuesday (July 22), Jakarta agreed to provide certainty regarding personal data transfers from Indonesia to the US and eliminate tariffs on intangible products by recognising the US as having 'adequate' data protection. Communication and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid wrote in a statement on Thursday that the negotiation was still ongoing, as previously conveyed by President Prabowo Subianto. She added that the agreement could serve as a legal basis for protecting the personal data of Indonesian citizens when using digital services provided by US-based companies, such as search engines, social media cloud services and e-commerce. 'The government will ensure that data transfer to the US will not be carried out carelessly. On the contrary, the whole process will be conducted within a secure and reliable data governance framework,' Meutya noted, adding that the transfer would be carried out under 'tight supervision of the Indonesian authorities, with high caution, based on the national law.' On the same day, Coordinating Economy Minister Airlangga Hartarto said at a press conference that Jakarta had agreed to establish a secure protocol for managing cross-border data flows with the US, without elaborating. 'Cross-border [services] are not limited to the US and include other countries,' he noted, adding that Indonesia had prepared a range of such protocols, including one implemented in the Nongsa Digital Park special economic zone in Batam, Riau Islands. Airlangga added that 12 US tech companies, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google Cloud, have complied with national regulations by building data centres in Indonesia. Digital advocacy groups, however, have raised concerns over the agreement's potential threat to domestic data rights and privacy, as well as compromised control over the country's digital infrastructure. Hendra Suryakusuma, chairman of the Indonesian Data Centre Providers Organisation, warned that allowing personal data generated in Indonesia to be transferred and analysed in the US could undermine Indonesia's digital sovereignty. 'We are at risk of losing our data control, whether it's strategic, personal or open data. This may also lead to the potential of increased digital dependency,' Hendra told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. He added that the local data centres could end up functioning only as 'edge computing' or 'hybrid cloud generators', roles in which they would no longer serve as the main site for data processing. This might cause prospective industry players to rethink their entry into Indonesia's market, hindering investment, he said, noting that global tech firms that had planned to invest billions of dollars in data centres in the country might divert their investment to the US. Domestic data centre operators, internet service providers and state-owned power monopolist Perusahaan Listrik Negara could also miss out on significant revenue potential driven by demand for data storage and processing, which consumes large amounts of electricity. Hendra also pointed out that the agreement could obscure legal boundaries outlined in the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law, which requires electronic system operators, particularly those in critical sectors like education, banking and health care, to implement strong, onshore data protection measures. 'The personal data of Indonesian citizens is a strategic [resource]. If we say that data is the new oil, then it must be generated and processed domestically to become our asset,' he said. Hendra urged the government to conduct a comprehensive assessment, preventing the cross-border data agreement from resulting in overdependence and diminished control, worsening already weak data security in the country, marked by breaches reported in the past few years. The Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy for Society (Elsam) has also voiced concern over potential drawbacks of the deal and serious threats to Indonesia's digital ecosystem. In a press release published on Wednesday, Elsam described the digital trade deal as 'unfair', arguing that the agreement favored interests of US-based data storage companies over the protection of personal data. It also highlighted the potential threat of mass surveillance of Indonesian citizens by US authorities, as well as risks from cross-border data flows, given that the Indonesian government has yet to establish a personal data protection body to oversee such practices. 'The absence of this institution, alongside fragmented cross-sectoral regulations, has led to weak oversight of the protection of personal data transferred overseas. This includes an increased risk of data leaks, misuse and violations of privacy rights,' reads the press release. Pratama Persadha, who chairs the cybersecurity watchdog Communication and Information System Security Research Centre, said the agreement could help accelerate the establishment of an independent institution overseeing data protection. However, he added that Indonesia should not overlook the looming risks from the free flow of personal data. Controlled data management is directly linked to the added value of the digital economy, he explained, describing personal data and digital behavior as 'essential raw materials' for the development of artificial intelligence, algorithm-based services and technological innovation. 'If not managed property, our data will only serve as a commodity exploited by foreign entities to build products and services that are then sold back to the Indonesian market,' he wrote in a statement on Thursday. Indonesia should pursue a bilateral agreement to protect its digital rights, he suggested, adding that the country should also strengthen its digital infrastructure, research and the development of local digital talent to maintain technological independence. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
Daily Express
22-07-2025
- Daily Express
Amok who threatened to kill mother held
Published on: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 22, 2025 By: Amir Anuar Text Size: The suspect was detained outside a house in Kampung Mangga, Kalabakan. KALABAKAN: A 45-year-old local suspected of running amok and threatening to kill his biological mother was arrested by police in Kampung Mangga, Kalabakan on Sunday evening. Acting Tawau District Police Chief Supt Champin Piuh said the suspect was apprehended around 7pm outside the family home after behaving suspiciously. 'The arrest was made following a public tip-off received by a crime prevention patrol unit from the Kalabakan Police Station (BPK),' he said in a statement on Monday. Champin said the suspect was behaving aggressively upon the officers' arrival and was believed to have threatened not only his mother, but also other family members present at the scene. A physical search of the suspect was conducted on-site, but no weapons or prohibited items were found on him. 'The motive behind his aggressive behaviour is still under investigation. Further information will be provided once documentation and interrogation are complete,' he added. The suspect has since been brought to Kalabakan Police Station before being transferred to the Tawau District Police Headquarters (IPD) for further investigation under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation. Champin also urged the public to be vigilant and to report any signs of domestic violence immediately. 'Police take family violence cases seriously. We encourage the public to come forward and report such incidents for timely intervention,' he stressed. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
01-06-2025
- The Star
Digital threats a top concern for Indonesian national security
JAKARTA: Cyberspace is now a critical domain for Indonesia's national defence, and stronger collaboration is needed to safeguard the country's digital sovereignty, said Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid. She said threats to national sovereignty increasingly originate in the digital domain, not just from land, sea, or air, amid a rise in cyberattacks and the spread of online disinformation. "Cyberspace is the heart of our modern defence. Safeguarding it means securing the nation's future,' she said during a recent public lecture at the National Resilience Institute, according to a statement from her ministry. Among recent high-profile incidents, Meutya cited a ransomware attack on Bank Syariah Indonesia in June 2024 by the LockBit 3.0 group, which demanded US$20 million and disrupted services for 15 million customers. She also warned of the dangers posed by online falsehoods-including misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, which she said could undermine national unity, inflame political tensions, and erode public trust. "These aren't just digital disturbances; they can threaten the ideological and social fabric of our society,' she said, adding that investment in digital security infrastructure is an urgent necessity. To tackle these challenges, the ministry has introduced key regulations, including Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on Electronic Systems Governance for Child Protection, Law No. 1 of 2024 revising the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, and Presidential Regulation No. 47 of 2023 on the National Cybersecurity Strategy. Noting that regulations alone are insufficient, Meutya urged leaders across the civil service, military and police to spearhead digital literacy efforts throughout government institutions. Indonesia has reported a sharp increase in cyber threats in recent years, in line with rapid digital transformation. - Bernama
