Government Finalises Formation of Personal Data Protection Authority

The government is finalising the formation of a personal data protection authority, which will operate independently. Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Nezar Patria stated that the agency is projected not to be under the Ministry of Communication and Digital. “This personal data protection body will work independently with its entire structure, but all its reports will be addressed to the president through the Ministry of Communication and Digital,” he said, as quoted in a ministry press release confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday. He said that the establishment of the personal data protection body is being discussed in the final stages of drafting a Presidential Regulation on Personal Data Protection, which is targeted for completion in about two months. Concurrently with the finalisation of the personal data protection regulation, the government is finalising the drafting of a Presidential Regulation on the National AI Roadmap. The presidential regulations on personal data protection and the national AI roadmap are being prepared as the foundation for artificial intelligence (AI) governance in Indonesia. “The foundation of AI governance rests on two main aspects, namely AI ethics and personal data protection,” Nezar said. “Therefore, the drafting of the two presidential regulations is proceeding simultaneously so that Indonesia has a regulatory framework capable of encouraging innovation while providing protection to the public,” he added. Through the National AI Roadmap, the government is opening the widest possible space for AI technology development while providing certainty on its development direction. “We are opening all AI initiatives and innovations to be developed in Indonesia. The National AI Roadmap is designed to support that innovation, not limit it,” Nezar said. He conveyed that the government will implement a risk-based regulatory approach in AI governance. With this approach, every AI product will be classified based on its risk level, ranging from low, medium, to high risk. “Our focus is on AI risk mitigation. AI products with high risk will certainly be regulated more comprehensively than products with low risk,” Nezar said. “Thus, innovation can continue to grow without neglecting aspects of security, ethics, and public protection.” In addition to preparing regulations, the government is striving to strengthen the national AI ecosystem by building digital infrastructure, developing data centres, increasing computing capacity, and enhancing digital talent. “The combination of adaptive regulation, strong personal data protection, and support for innovation will be important capital for Indonesia in accelerating digital economic growth and strengthening competitiveness at the global level,” Nezar Patria concluded.