House Commission I Supports Ministry of Communication and Digital in Enforcing Rules Against Wikipedia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dave Laksono, supports the government through the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) in remaining consistent in enforcing regulations on the obligation to register as an Electronic System Operator (PSE). The enforcement of these rules particularly targets Wikipedia or the Wikimedia Foundation, which has not yet completed the registration process. Dave stated in Jakarta on Saturday that the governance of the digital space in Indonesia must be carried out in an orderly manner and in accordance with applicable legal regulations. The regulation on the obligation to register as a PSE, he said, is an important instrument designed to ensure orderliness, accountability, and protection of public interests. “Every digital platform, whether local or international, including the Wikimedia Foundation as the manager of Wikipedia, needs to respect and comply with those provisions as a form of respect for Indonesia’s legal sovereignty,” said Dave. On the other hand, he also views Wikipedia as having a very strategic role as a source of open knowledge used by millions of Indonesians. Wikipedia, according to him, has become a primary reference in education, research, and daily information needs. “Reducing access to this service would certainly cause unintended impacts on society, especially in terms of literacy and openness of information,” he said. Therefore, he encourages the government’s steps to be taken with full caution. According to him, Kemkomdigi needs to prioritise a communicative and persuasive approach, by opening up space for dialogue with the Wikimedia Foundation. He said that transparent explanations regarding the purpose of the regulation, accompanied by willingness to listen to input from relevant parties, will help achieve compliance without creating the impression of restrictions on freedom of expression in the digital space. Because, he assesses, compliance with the law is an obligation, but maintaining public access to knowledge is a shared responsibility. “With a firm yet solution-oriented approach, we believe that digital governance in Indonesia can run according to the rules, while still ensuring an open, healthy, and beneficial digital space for the wider community,” he said. Previously, Kemkomdigi issued an ultimatum to the Wikimedia Foundation to immediately complete the registration process as a private scope PSE in Indonesia in accordance with applicable regulatory provisions. The Director General of Digital Space Supervision at the Ministry of Communication and Digital, Alexander Sabar, emphasised that if that step is not followed, the government will enforce strict measures. “The government through the Ministry of Communication and Digital reaffirms its commitment to enforcing orderly and fair digital space governance for all electronic system operators,” said Alex in Jakarta on Wednesday (15/4).