Indonesia Faces Urgent Call for AI Regulation to Protect Democracy and Prevent Abuse
Indonesia urgently needs AI regulations to prevent misuse while protecting free expression. Experts suggest modeling laws after the EU’s balanced AI Act to address emerging risks.
Urgent Need for AI Regulation in Indonesia
JAKARTA – The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Indonesia calls for immediate legal regulation. Henri Subiakto, a digital communication expert at Airlangga University, emphasizes that AI laws should prevent misuse without limiting public freedom of expression or democratic values.
"Regulations are necessary to prevent the misuse of AI-generated content," Henri stated on May 25, 2025. He proposed that Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) and government consider the European Union's AI Act as a model, since it balances regulation with democratic principles across diverse nations.
He explained that the European AI Act addresses challenges posed by AI platforms from both the US and China, reflecting the need for regulations that fit a broad range of social and political contexts.
Why AI Regulation Is Critical
AI-generated content comes in various forms—text, images, and videos—that are often hard to trace back to reliable sources. This raises risks such as fake news, hoaxes, and copyright infringements.
Current laws like Indonesia's Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE) Law and the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law do not fully cover these new risks. For instance, the PDP Law protects personal data but lacks specific rules on how AI algorithms can use this data to produce content.
Henri pointed to the US "Take Down Act" as an example of proactive legislation. It empowers authorities to quickly remove illegal or harmful AI-generated content, showing how governments can respond to these challenges.
Recent Incidents Highlight Need for Regulation
Concerns about AI misuse are not hypothetical. Recently, an ITB student was arrested for posting an AI-edited photo depicting Indonesia’s 7th President Joko Widodo kissing President Prabowo Subianto. Although intended as political commentary, the authorities viewed it as immoral and in violation of Article 45 paragraph (1) of the ITE Law.
Meanwhile, AI-generated content is gaining popularity on platforms like YouTube, where channels attract large audiences with fabricated news videos. This trend has prompted Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of DPR RI, to call for stricter regulations against the misuse of AI-produced images and videos.
Conclusion
Indonesia faces an urgent demand for clear and balanced AI regulations. Such laws should complement existing frameworks to address AI's unique challenges while protecting democratic freedoms and public interests.
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