Legislator Hopes Indonesia is Not Deceived by Foreign Technology on Data: Do Not Trust Google
Member of the House of Representatives’ Legislation Body (Baleg), Firman Soebagyo, stated that Indonesia must be independent regarding the data it possesses. He hopes that Indonesia’s data system does not depend on foreign technology.
This was expressed by Firman during a hearing with the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) on Monday (6/4/2026). Initially, he said there must be accessibility to the geospatial information system.
“Accessibility to the geospatial information system requires technical skills. This concerns instruments and human resources because how can we wage war if we do not have precise data. To be honest, I admire Iran for having missiles that are so precise,” said Firman during the meeting at the DPR.
This Golkar legislator highlighted that the institution responsible for national data is using foreign loan funds. He considers the budget allocation as ironic.
“It is very ironic that an institution responsible for national data must use loan funds. If I were the Finance Minister, would I consider data important? I say it is above everything,” said the member of Commission IV of the DPR.
He stated that Indonesia must accept the consequences of foreign loans related to the data it possesses. “If you take a loan from abroad, there is no such thing as no free lunch, no free lunch. There is no free lunch, Sir. There must be conditions,” said Firman.
“The condition is that your data must be handed over to the lender. That’s why I am most allergic to donor countries providing research programme assistance to NGOs. This is what damages the country, Sir,” he added.
He then touched on data integrated with technology companies. According to him, Indonesia should not trust Google too much because the data presented can be wrong.
“You also mentioned that we have AI and Google. Google, Sir, can also mislead people. Do not trust Google. The other day during the Lebaran holiday return, many people went to remote areas and entered villages. This is a data issue,” he said.
He hopes that in the future, Indonesia can be independent in data technology. He wants the Single Data Bill to make Indonesia a sovereign country in data ownership.
“That’s right, Sir. This is a data issue. So, never let us be deceived by foreign interest technology. Therefore, Indonesia must be independent and firm regarding this data,” said Firman.
“So finally, Mr Arif, I ask you because we are drafting this law to improve the system. You should be grateful that the DPR is stepping forward more advanced, because it initiated the Single Data Bill from Baleg under the leadership of the gentlemen in front,” he added.