Promoting Digital Sovereignty and Personal Data Protection

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Our digital landscape today is at a low point of sovereignty. There are numerous challenges in realising digital sovereignty in Indonesia. The dynamic cross-border data exchange makes it difficult to ensure that our personal data is securely protected. In addition, the threat of disinformation is becoming increasingly real, along with the ease of spreading information through various electronic platforms and media channels. The government’s steps to encourage the registration of Electronic System Operators (PSE) can serve as a strategic instrument to promote certainty in the implementation of personal data protection. This is not merely an administrative matter, but can be an entry point to ensure data sovereignty in Indonesia. As an illustration, recently the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs gave an ultimatum to the Wikimedia Foundation to immediately complete the registration process as a private-scope Electronic System Operator (PSE) in Indonesia. If Wikimedia does not register as a PSE, in accordance with applicable law in Indonesia, then the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs will block Wikimedia services, including the Wikipedia Indonesia online encyclopaedia ecosystem and Wikimedia Commons. As of March 2026, 16,529 private PSEs and more than 3,600 public PSEs have been officially registered. This fact confirms that PSE regulation is not merely administrative, but a real instrument in maintaining digital sovereignty. Personal Data Protection In the midst of global digitalisation flows, it is important to ensure we have visibility regarding responsible personal data processing practices. The increasing development and utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) will certainly involve large-scale data collection to develop that technology. Various services provided across jurisdictions raise many questions about how to ensure the public has control over their personal data and compliance with applicable laws. The government’s role in ensuring the development and use of electronic systems responsibly is very crucial. One of the efforts by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs) in supervising cyberspace is by requiring PSE registration in Indonesia, both domestic PSE and foreign PSE.