Google, Twitter have yet to register new Indonesian licensing rules: Ministry
Neither Google nor Alphabet’s Twitter Inc have signed up to the new Indonesian licensing rules as of Wednesday noon, ministry filings show, as the deadline approaches that could result in their services being temporarily blocked in the Philippines. this country.
Registration is required under rules enacted at the end of 2020, allowing broad authorities to force platforms to disclose the data of certain users and take down content that is stolen. considered illegal or “disturbing public order” within four hours if urgent and 24 hours otherwise.
The communications ministry said companies that fail to register by the deadline just before midnight on Wednesday will be reprimanded, fined and then blocked – a decision that will be overturned once they register. While the ministry did not say exactly when the ban will take effect, it is unlikely to be immediate.
As of mid-Wednesday, Google and Twitter are not on the list of foreign suppliers that have signed up for the new regulations by the Ministry of Communications.
Google and Twitter did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meta Platforms Inc’s Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp units signed up on Tuesday, while other services like ByteDance’s Spotify, Netflix and TikTok have also signed up, according to ministry filings.
With a young, tech-savvy population of 10 million, Indonesia is in the top 10 in terms of user numbers for a wide range of social media companies.
The government says new rules have been developed to ensure internet service providers protect consumer data and online content is used in a “positive and productive way”.
It can also force companies to disclose the contact information and personal data of specific users if required by law enforcement or the government.
Two sources at major internet platforms said they remain concerned about the data and content implications of the regulation as well as the risk of excessive government access.
The Federation of Independent Journalists in Indonesia said some provisions in the new rule were “very elastic” and vulnerable to abuse.
“The consequences may be that news or content disclosures violate rights … or investigative reports may be considered disturbing … by certain parties, or even by governments or institutions law enforcement,” the organization said on Twitter.
