Indonesia to implement strict rules on internet companies

The Indonesian government is drafting measures that will allow it to impose fines and file criminal charges against internet and social media firms, reported Reuters, citing people who have direct knowledge of the matter.

Under the new rules, tech companies must remove “unlawful” content within four hours of an “urgent” request from any Indonesian government agency. If the request isn’t urgent, companies have to comply within 24 hours.

The unlawful content may involve terrorism, pornography, and anything considered a security threat.

After receiving the complaint, internet firms will be penalized for every unlawful content, and the fines will go up the longer it remains on their platform. The fine amount hasn’t been finalized, but it may be pegged at around US$70 per piece of content. If plaforms don’t comply, they can be blocked in the country and their staff could face criminal charges.

Indonesia’s finance and communications ministries are preparing the guidelines, which are in the final stages.

Some tech executives who are aware of the plan said that the rules will be hard to follow and will raise their operating costs. Aside from that, the measures also could pose a threat to freedom of expression in the country.

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