Indonesian Parliament Pushes for Stricter Regulations on Global Digital Platforms, Focusing on Data Sovereignty and Jurisdiction
The debate regarding the governance of global digital platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) in Indonesia has shifted from mere business competition to issues of digital sovereignty, consumer protection, and national bargaining power in international trade.
Muhammad Huse and Husein Fadlulloh, Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament’s Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) and a member of the AI Working Group, emphasised that the power of current digital platforms is shaped by the dominance of data control, algorithms, user networks, and control over market structures.
These remarks were made during a limited Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition (KPPU) on 31 August 2026. The discussion was also attended by the Chairperson of the Indonesian Telecommunications Providers Association (ATSI) Dian Siswarini, a member of the National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN) Heru Sutadi, and the Director of Digital Space Supervision Strategy and Policy at the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) Muchtarul Huda.
“Digital platforms and AI are no longer just issues of technological development. When a platform controls data and has the ability to influence market structures, the issue touches upon digital sovereignty as well as consumer protection,” said Husein, as quoted on Thursday (10/9).
Husein stated that the BKSAP DPR consistently brings digital economy issues into inter-parliamentary cooperation discussions, including matters related to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
He noted that there are at least four issues that Indonesia must continue to fight for in international discussions: import duty policies and electronic transmission, data sovereignty and cross-border data flows, the calculation of the economic value of digital services, and the protection of the digital ecosystem and the competitiveness of MSMEs.
“We must not allow the digital economy to grow very rapidly while the added value is enjoyed mostly outside our jurisdiction. Indonesian MSMEs must obtain market access and fair opportunities, rather than merely being part of the value chain of global platforms,” said Husein.
This view was supported by the Chairperson of the Indonesian Telecommunications Providers Association (ATSI), Dian Siswarini. She emphasised that ATSI supports the government’s steps to regulate global digital platforms, provided that such policies do not burden the public as users.