Indonesia‘s New tech Regulations Reflect Big Tech’s Influence, Inquiry Reveals
JAKARTA – Indonesia’s recently enacted regulations governing tech companies and news publishers were substantially shaped by intensive lobbying efforts from major technology firms, according to a collaborative investigation led by Brazilian news organization agência Pública and the Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (CLIP), alongside a consortium of 21 media outlets including Tempo magazine.The probe,dubbed “Big Tech’s Invisible Hand,” reveals how tech giants successfully advocated for provisions that critics say prioritize their financial interests over fair compensation for news content and a healthy media ecosystem.
The new rules, intended to address concerns over revenue sharing between tech platforms and Indonesian media, have instead been criticized for perhaps allowing Google and Meta to largely dictate terms. Indonesia’s Publisher Rights Committee is already facing challenges in securing commitments from tech companies, even for modest payments to news organizations, according to Committee Chair Suprapto Sastro Atmojo. “The media have been waiting for commitments from tech companies, even if the value is small,” Suprapto said. This outcome underscores a growing global trend where tech lobbying impacts legislation designed to regulate their power, raising questions about the future of independent journalism.
The investigation details how tech companies engaged in extensive meetings with Indonesian government officials, presenting data and arguments that influenced the final form of the regulations. While specific details of those meetings remain largely confidential, the resulting framework allows tech firms to largely self-regulate content deals with media outlets, offering them the option of voluntary agreements rather than mandated payments.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned a recent Google trial in Indonesia, which effectively makes journalistic content invisible in search engines, as intimidation. “Google’s trial makes journalistic content invisible in search engines,” wrote Antoine Bernard,Advocacy and Assistance Director at RSF. “This must be stopped.”
The “Big Tech’s Invisible Hand” project involved contributions from Crikey (australia), Cuestión Pública (colombia), Daily Maverick (South Africa), El Diario AR (Argentina), El Surti (Paraguay), Factum (El Salvador), ICL (Brazil), the Investigative Journalism Foundation - IJF (Canada), LaBot (Chile), LightHouse Reports (International), N+Focus (Mexico), Núcleo (Brazil), Primicias (Ecuador), Tech policy Press (USA), and tempo (Indonesia). Reporters Without Borders and the legal team El Veinte provided support, while La Fábrica Memética designed the visual identity for the project.
