Google has yet to sign up for Indonesia's new licensing rules, reports Ministry

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• Jul 20, 2022 | Poonam Nath

The new regulations aim to guarantee that internet service providers safeguard consumer data and that online content is utilized "positively and productively."

Digital Desk: On Wednesday, Google was among the last remaining tech platforms to comply with Indonesia's new licensing rules, according to ministry data, as a deadline loomed that could result in their services being temporarily blocked in the country.

The registration is required under rules issued in late 2020 that give authorities broad powers to compel platforms to disclose user data and remove content deemed unlawful or that "disturbs public order" within four hours if urgent and 24 hours if not.

Companies that do not register by the deadline of just before midnight on Wednesday will be reprimanded, fined, and then blocked - a decision that will be reversed once they write.

While the Ministry did not specify when the ban would go into effect, it is unlikely to be immediate. more info

Twitter was among the latest companies to be added to a communications ministry list of foreign providers who have signed up to the new rules as of Wednesday afternoon. In contrast, Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google had yet to register.

Google did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Twitter stated that it had "taken appropriate steps to comply with" the rules.

According to the Ministry's records, Meta Platforms Inc's (META.O) units Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp registered on Tuesday, while other services such as Spotify (SPOT.N), Netflix (NFLX.O), and ByteDance's TikTok also signed up.

With a population of 10 million young, tech-savvy people, Indonesia is a top-10 market in terms of user numbers for various social media companies.

It can also compel companies to reveal specific users' communications and personal data if law enforcement or government agencies request it.

Two sources at large internet platforms said they are still concerned about the regulation's data and content implications and the risk of government overreach.

According to the Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists, some provisions in the new rules are "very elastic" and open to abuse.

"As a result, news or content revealing rights violations or investigative reports may be considered unsettling by certain parties, including the government or law enforcement," the organization said on Twitter.

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