Indonesia Has the Capability to Build Digital Independence and Sovereignty, Says Lawmaker

Amidst global competition increasingly determined by data control, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure, Indonesia needs to build digital sovereignty as part of its strategy to maintain independence and national competitiveness. Member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Azis Subekti, stated that Indonesia’s digital transformation should not be understood merely as expanding internet access or increasing the use of digital applications. Digitalisation must be positioned as a strategic national agenda to strengthen Indonesia’s position in facing geopolitical and global economic changes. “Indonesia’s digital issue is not just a technological matter. This issue touches the essence of independence, namely the nation’s ability to determine its own destiny amidst global changes,” Azis said at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta. According to him, the current global power map has shifted significantly. If in the agrarian era power was determined by land ownership, and in the industrial era it relied on factories and production technology, then in the digital era the centre of power now lies in data, algorithms, computing centres, undersea cables, digital networks, and artificial intelligence technology. “This change demands that Indonesia have a comprehensive strategy in managing national digital assets. This potential will not provide maximum benefits if Indonesia only acts as a market for global digital products and services,” he added. Azis noted that with a large population, a growing digital market, a vast territory, and a strategic geographical position, Indonesia has strong capital to build digital independence. “Indonesia produces a large amount of data. The highest value from that data must be sought for the benefit of Indonesia,” he said. Azis also assessed that the national digital sovereignty agenda needs to be built upon three interconnected and inseparable main foundations. The first foundation is strengthening physical digital infrastructure. This aspect includes the construction and security of undersea cables, fibre optic networks, satellites, data centres, network security, and the diversification of international connectivity routes to ensure the resilience of the national digital system. The second foundation relates to the development of the digital economy and technology. This includes national data management, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cyber security, research and innovation, strengthening the software industry, and improving the quality of Indonesia’s digital talent.