Government Drafts Regulation for Content Filtering on OTT Video Streaming
The government is currently drafting a revision of regulations, specifically Law Number 33 of 2009 on Film, to clarify the filtering arrangements for content broadcast on over-the-top (OTT) video streaming or video on demand (VoD) platforms.
Chair of the Law and Advocacy Sub-commission of the Indonesian Film Censorship Institute (LSF), Saptari Novia Stri, stated in Denpasar on Friday that the current rules do not yet explicitly regulate the censorship obligation for digital streaming services. This situation means not all OTT providers submit their films or content to undergo the censorship process at the LSF.
“The explanation in Law Number 33 of 2009 does not yet clearly regulate OTT. Therefore, a revision of the law is currently underway to clarify the platforms included in that category,” said Novia.
According to her, the revision process involves various parties, ranging from the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), film industry associations, to broadcasting business players and digital platforms. The government has held a number of discussion forums to gather input to be included in the regulatory revision.
Novia explained that the LSF has continued to censor registered films and film advertisements, including content produced using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Assessments are made on titles, themes, scenes, sound, and translated text before an age classification and a Certificate of Censorship Approval (STLS) are issued.
“We do not look at whether a film was made with AI or not. What we assess is the content itself, whether it complies with applicable regulations and meets cinematographic standards,” she said.
The LSF currently applies four age classifications: All Ages (SU), 13 years and above, 17 years and above, and 21 years and above. After passing the assessment process and meeting the requirements, a film receives an STLS as a condition for exhibition or distribution.
Despite this, Novia acknowledged there are still obstacles in supervising OTT platforms because most of the companies providing these services are headquartered outside Indonesia. Therefore, the revision of the Film Law is expected to clarify the obligation of OTT providers to comply with regulations in force in Indonesia, including those related to censorship and age classification of content.
“Going forward, together with relevant ministries, we are seeking to include clearer provisions regarding OTT content so that they also comply with the regulations in force in Indonesia,” she said.
Novia also confirmed that some streaming platforms have voluntarily submitted their content for censorship by the LSF. However, because there is no explicit obligation regulated in the law, such compliance remains limited. The revision of the Film Law is expected to provide a stronger legal basis for regulating the distribution and consumption of digital content, while also offering protection to the public through clearer censorship and age classification mechanisms.