DPR Discusses Digital Platform Regulation in Broadcasting Law Revision

The development of digital platforms, streaming services, multiplatform media, and artificial intelligence (AI) is considered to have transformed the national broadcasting landscape, necessitating an update to existing regulations. The government and the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) are currently discussing a revision of Law Number 32 of 2002 on Broadcasting to align the rules with changes in the digital media ecosystem.

Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR RI, Dave Akbarshah Fikarno Laksono, stated that the regulatory update aims to ensure the broadcasting legal system remains relevant to changes in the production, distribution, and consumption patterns of information by the public. “Digitalisation, the internet, and digital platforms, including artificial intelligence, require our laws to adapt to prevent a regulatory vacuum, while protecting the public interest and the nation’s digital sovereignty,” he said.

According to Dave, broadcasting regulations are no longer sufficient to govern just television and radio. The development of digital platforms has changed how the public accesses and disseminates information, requiring rules that can accommodate various forms of broadcasting services. He explained that the revision of the Broadcasting Law is directed at creating regulatory parity between conventional broadcasting institutions and digital platforms. This is expected to provide legal certainty for industry players and allow them to operate in a fairer business climate.

“The draft Broadcasting Bill provides regulation for both conventional and multiplatform broadcasting. Its main objective is to create fair arrangements for all broadcasting operators, thereby establishing an equal playing field between conventional broadcasters and digital platforms,” he said. The discussion on the revision also includes strengthening the institutional capacity of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), expanding the scope of supervision, reinforcing public broadcasting institutions, updating advertising provisions, and adjusting the Broadcasting Code of Conduct and Programme Standards.

Dave stated that the regulatory update is expected to maintain the continuity of the national broadcasting legal system while providing certainty for industry players facing media convergence and the advancement of digital technology. He added that adaptive regulation is hoped to support better media governance, strengthen the competitiveness of the national broadcasting industry, and maintain a balance between technological innovation, protection of the public interest, and information diversity.