Jakarta, ThedailyID — Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, or Komdigi, has said that its latest content regulations will not target legitimate criticism, differing opinions, or journalistic work.
The ministry issued the clarification on Monday, November 2, following public concerns over two new ministerial decrees on content moderation.
“Criticism, differences of opinion, and lawful expression do not automatically become objects of enforcement,” said Mediodecci Lustarini, Secretary General for Digital Space Supervision.
She said the regulations focus on content that meets specific criteria for disinformation or hate speech.
Komdigi also stressed that the rules do not target journalistic content produced by the press. The ministry said it continues to support press freedom, including investigative reporting.
“If an error occurs during moderation, content owners can submit an objection and request the restoration of their content,” Mediodecci said.
The new rules have drawn attention because they require digital platforms to respond quickly to certain takedown orders. However, Komdigi said the four-hour deadline does not apply immediately.
The process begins with a verification stage under the government’s SAMAN monitoring system. Komdigi first reviews reports or findings and sends a notification to the relevant platform.
Platforms have 12 hours to respond to urgent cases and 24 hours for non-urgent cases. They can also provide clarification or explain the context of the reported content.
Komdigi issues a formal takedown order only if a platform fails to respond within the given timeframe. After receiving that order, platforms must act within four hours for urgent content.
According to Komdigi, the system aims to create a more accountable approach to digital content moderation. The ministry said it also wants to protect the public’s right to express opinions legally.
