As reported yesterday, all tech platforms are required to register themselves as an Electronic Systems Provider (PSE) in Indonesia by 20th July or risk being blocked in the country. In less than 48 hours to the deadline, it appears that more international tech firms have registered themselves today including Meta, Instagram, Netflix and Discord.
According to Indonesia’s PSE database, both Instagram and Facebook are already registered but there is still no sign of WhatsApp, which is one of the biggest instant messaging apps in the country. Meanwhile, Twitter and Google have also yet to register themselves in the database.
The requirement for digital platforms to register themselves with the Indonesia authority was introduced as part of a regulation released in November 2020 to allow authorities to order the removal of content that are deemed unlawful or seen as a threat to public order. Registered platforms must comply with take-down requests within 24 hours or within 4 hours if it is an urgent request.
It is also reported that Indonesia can compel tech firms to reveal communications and personal data of specific users if requested by government agencies or law enforcement. Apps and platforms that are not registered would be blocked on 21st July onward.
At the moment, there are 127 foreign and 6,661 local platforms registered under Indonesia’s Electronic Systems Provider (PSE) list. Other notable registered entities include Tiktok, Spotify, Telegram, Disney+ Hotstar, Microsoft, Amazon, Shopee, Lazada, Grab and Gojek.
What about Malaysia?
If a company like Meta can comply with Indonesian regulators, it is time for Malaysia to take similar steps to keep big tech in check. International platforms hosted overseas such as Facebook and Twitter seem to fall outside the jurisdiction of our current legal framework as Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said that Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has no power to take down content on these platforms. As a result, there has been a rise in misleading and scam ads on Facebook that were approved without conducting basic checks. Even a misleading ad featuring Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin took Facebook days to take down after it was reported by the Ministry of Health.
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