AMSI Expresses Concern Over Latest Trade Agreement Between Indonesia and the United States

Darilaut – The Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI) has expressed concern over provisions in the latest trade agreement between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the United States. This agreement limits the authority of the Indonesian government in requiring US-based digital platforms to pay compensation or licensing fees to Indonesian media companies.

These provisions potentially conflict with the spirit and direction of national policies that have been working to build a fairer relationship between digital platforms and media companies, as regulated in national regulations regarding cooperation between digital platforms and media companies, including paid licensing mechanisms and revenue sharing for the use of news content.

In addition, AMSI believes that the inclusion of this clause cannot be separated from the political and economic pressure exerted by the US government on Indonesia. This provision places the Indonesian government in a difficult position: on the one hand, it must maintain bilateral trade relations and opportunities to increase the economic value of priority sectors, but on the other hand, it risks sacrificing the interests of the national press industry and the sovereignty of digital policy.

Indonesia had previously taken progressive steps to ensure fair compensation for the use of journalistic content by digital platforms with Presidential Regulation Number 32 of 2024 concerning the Responsibility of Digital Platforms for Quality Journalism. This policy was born out of the awareness that journalism is a public good and that the sustainability of national media is a prerequisite for a healthy democracy.