Ministry of Communications Blocks eBay, KLM and Bath & Body Works for Failing to Register as Electronic System Operators
The Ministry of Communications and Informatics (Komdigi) has recently taken firm action, blocking access to three Private Scope Electronic System Operators (PSE), including e-commerce giant eBay, airline KLM, and Bath & Body Works (PT Dunia Luxindo). The measure was taken after all three failed to register or update their data in accordance with ministry regulations, despite receiving repeated warnings.
The blocking is not due to illegal content but is purely an administrative sanction for non-compliance with Private PSE registration regulations. Under Ministerial Regulation No. 5/2020, all private PSEs are required to register their electronic systems via the Online Single Submission (OSS) system before operating in Indonesia and to update their data whenever changes occur.
Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision, affirmed that Komdigi had issued notifications and set deadlines, but the companies' responses were minimal, prompting the decision to "cut access" as a follow-up measure. eBay, KLM and PT Dunia Luxindo are among a long list of PSEs that had previously received warnings, including Nike, Lenovo, Xbox and Philips, from a list of seven companies to as many as 36 entities that had faced the threat of being blocked.
Komdigi intends the action to serve as a deterrent for related parties to comply with existing regulations in Indonesia. The aim is to guarantee data protection and user rights in Indonesia so they are not misused by third parties.
From the public's perspective, citizens who regularly use eBay or KLM and experience access disruptions must resort to VPNs or other alternatives to stay connected. Beyond the more complex steps required to restore access, blocking global websites can cause reputational damage, particularly if users begin to lose trust in official services in Indonesia.
Komdigi has emphasised that the blocking is administrative in nature, not permanent. The ministry has opened channels for dialogue and clarification for PSEs experiencing technical obstacles or registration validity issues. If all requirements are met, their sites can resume operations in Indonesia.
From online forums such as Reddit and public comments, critical opinions have emerged. Some consider the regulation too rigid and potentially burdensome for users accustomed to global services. Others have commented that it could be perceived as "administrative extortion", owing to the potential pressure to pay certain parties to ensure the registration process runs smoothly.
The blocking is not due to illegal content but is purely an administrative sanction for non-compliance with Private PSE registration regulations. Under Ministerial Regulation No. 5/2020, all private PSEs are required to register their electronic systems via the Online Single Submission (OSS) system before operating in Indonesia and to update their data whenever changes occur.
Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision, affirmed that Komdigi had issued notifications and set deadlines, but the companies' responses were minimal, prompting the decision to "cut access" as a follow-up measure. eBay, KLM and PT Dunia Luxindo are among a long list of PSEs that had previously received warnings, including Nike, Lenovo, Xbox and Philips, from a list of seven companies to as many as 36 entities that had faced the threat of being blocked.
Komdigi intends the action to serve as a deterrent for related parties to comply with existing regulations in Indonesia. The aim is to guarantee data protection and user rights in Indonesia so they are not misused by third parties.
From the public's perspective, citizens who regularly use eBay or KLM and experience access disruptions must resort to VPNs or other alternatives to stay connected. Beyond the more complex steps required to restore access, blocking global websites can cause reputational damage, particularly if users begin to lose trust in official services in Indonesia.
Komdigi has emphasised that the blocking is administrative in nature, not permanent. The ministry has opened channels for dialogue and clarification for PSEs experiencing technical obstacles or registration validity issues. If all requirements are met, their sites can resume operations in Indonesia.
From online forums such as Reddit and public comments, critical opinions have emerged. Some consider the regulation too rigid and potentially burdensome for users accustomed to global services. Others have commented that it could be perceived as "administrative extortion", owing to the potential pressure to pay certain parties to ensure the registration process runs smoothly.