ICT Ministry's plan to block Instagram, Netflix, Google

The government through the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (ICT Ministry) in 2020 issued a regulation requiring private electronic system operators (PSE Private) or companies/individuals/groups that disseminate electronic information, such as Instagram, to register as PSE. Failure to comply with the regulation will result in access termination.

The regulation was made so that electronic information in circulation does not violate the law or public order, and guarantees the protection of personal data.

Every PSE is actually required to register before operating. However, until the ministerial regulation was enacted, platforms such as Google, Instagram, WhatsApp and Netflix had not yet registered.

ICT Ministry data released by Katadata (22 June) showed that from 2015 to June 2022, 4,540 PSE have been registered in Indonesia, consisting of 4,472 domestic PSE and 68 foreign PSE.

Meanwhile, according to research from CNBC (24 June), there are several well-known foreign private PSE that have registered, including TikTok and LinkTree which registered on June 22.

Local platforms such as Gojek, Tokopedia, JnT and OVO have also been registered as PSE.

In total, only 2,569 platforms have been registered as PSE, while 1,971 haven’t registered. More private PSE will be blocked.

ICT Ministry spokesman Dedy Permadi on 22 June reminded foreign private PSE to register before 20 July 2022. Otherwise, they will be immediately blocked from Indonesia, CNBC reported.

Dedy explained that the ministry will check which PSE have not yet registered. After that, if they have not registered until the deadline, the ministry will hold communication with them. If there is no acceptable reason, the platform will be blocked immediately.

According to Dedy, major platforms that have not yet registered are most likely still working on it.