DPD RI Pushes for Revision of Consumer Protection Law to Address Digital Economy
Manokwari (ANTARA) - The Chair of Committee III of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) of the Republic of Indonesia, Filep Wamafma, is pushing for a revision of Law No. 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection to address the challenges posed by the development of the digital economy.
Updating this regulation, which is over two decades old, is crucial because it has so far been unable to accommodate the dynamics of modern trade, especially electronic-based transactions or e-commerce.
“This law was originally designed to provide legal certainty and support the business world, but now it faces new challenges that are far more complex,” said Filep in Manokwari, West Papua, on Saturday.
Based on data from the National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN), the number of consumer complaints from 2020 to mid-2025 exceeded 11,000, reflecting that the current regulation is not fully effective.
There are several issues that have not been adequately accommodated by Law No. 8 of 1999, including cross-platform transactions, personal data protection, the prevalence of online fraud, and weak return mechanisms for goods.
“Indonesian consumers are still in a relatively weak position compared to business actors, so more proactive regulations are needed to create balance,” said Filep.
He stated that revising the law to optimise consumer protection is an important foundation in driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth towards Golden Indonesia 2045.
“The revision of the law must also consider global standards, including developments in technology-based products, such as electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence (AI),” he said.
He explained that the Bill to Amend Law No. 8 of 1999 is already included in the priority national legislative programme with sequence number 119.
In addition, he said, the government needs to strengthen institutions at the regional level, particularly the Consumer Dispute Resolution Bodies (BPSK), to provide optimal protection for the public.