• Indonesian watchdog to regulate online video content
  • 2002 Broadcasting Law to be revised amid the digital flux
  • KPI chairman: “We hope to revise it within the shortest possible time”

watching content on phone

Indonesia: Content censorship 

The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) is set to formulate content censorship legislation on digital media outlets including streaming services and social media platforms. 

The new regulation is aimed at ensuring digital content across the media landscape from YouTube to HBO, Netflix and social media channels are adhering to digital decency.

The Jakarta Post reported that the KPI is attempting to include the monitoring of digital content in the revision of the 2002 Broadcasting Law, which the House of Representatives is expected to come to a decision on in the near future.

KPI chairman Agung Suprio said that it was necessary to monitor digital media because viewing habits, especially among younger people had shifted away from conventional media.

The measure aims to ensure that digital content “is worth watching and promotes educational values” and to “keep citizens away from low-quality content”.

Suprio added the proportion of millennials who will be in the age range of 20 to 40 years in 2020, has reached almost half the population of the country, according to data from the Statistics Agency.

He said: “We will also revise the Broadcasting Code of Conduct and Standards of Broadcast Programs (P3SPS) because it’s too old. New things have not yet been accommodated. We hope to revise it within the shortest possible time.”

According to Tempo, the regulatory movement was “opposed by many” however Suprio said his office would never conduct censorship towards shows that are deemed inappropriate based on KPI’s P3SPS.

In an interview with CNN TV, he said KPI was not in a position to block or ban content on the platforms.

“We have no rights [to do the blocking/banning]. What we do is calling on [the creators or platforms] to make content based on national values.

In the planned supervision, KPI would only deal with the executives from the firms and not with the content creators of a publication. Currently, the institution is discussing technical matters of the supervision with the representatives of the media.

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