Google yet to register for Indonesia’s new licensing rules

JAKARTA, July 20 (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google was among the many final remaining tech platforms but to adjust to Indonesia’s new licensing guidelines late on Wednesday, hours from a deadline to enroll and keep away from having its providers blocked within the nation.

Registration is required below guidelines launched in late 2020 that may give authorities broad powers to compel platforms to reveal knowledge of sure customers and take down content material deemed illegal or that “disturbs public order” inside 4 hours if pressing, and 24 hours if not.

With a younger, tech-savvy inhabitants of 270 million, Indonesia is a top-10 market when it comes to person numbers for a bunch of social media corporations.

“We’re conscious of the regulation’s necessities, and are within the means of taking acceptable motion in direction of compliance,” a Google consultant mentioned, with out elaborating.

The communications ministry has mentioned corporations that don’t register earlier than midnight Wednesday can be reprimanded, fined, after which blocked – a choice that can be reversed as soon as they join.

Whereas the ministry didn’t say when the block would take impact, it’s unlikely to be rapid. learn extra

Twitter was among the many newest corporations to be added to a communications ministry listing of overseas suppliers which have signed up.

In a press release on Wednesday afternoon the corporate mentioned it had “taken acceptable steps to conform”.

Meta Platforms Inc’s (META.O) models Fb, Instagram, and WhatsApp registered on Tuesday, whereas Spotify (SPOT.N), Netflix (NFLX.O), and ByteDance’s TikTok have additionally signed up, the information confirmed.

The federal government says the brand new guidelines purpose to make sure web service suppliers shield shopper knowledge, and that on-line content material is utilized in a “constructive and productive” means.

However it may well additionally compel corporations to disclose communications and private knowledge of particular customers if requested by regulation enforcement or authorities companies.

Two sources at massive web platforms mentioned they continue to be involved in regards to the knowledge and content material implications of the regulation and the danger of presidency overreach.

The Alliance of Unbiased Journalists in Indonesia mentioned some provisions have been open to abuse.

“The consequence could possibly be that information or content material that reveals rights violations …or investigative stories could possibly be thought of unsettling…by sure events, and even by the federal government or regulation enforcement,” the alliance mentioned on Twitter.

Further reporting by Fanny Potkin in Singapore; Modifying by Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty, Kirsten Donovan

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