Jakarta – Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) continues deliberations on the Broadcasting Bill (RUU), focusing on strengthening regulations in the digital era. One key point raised during the Public Hearing (RDPU) of the Broadcasting Bill Working Committee was the proposal to include provisions regarding a code of ethics for digital platforms.
Prof. Dr. Ahmad M. Ramli, a legal expert from Padjadjaran University, emphasized the need for specific regulations regarding a code of ethics for digital content, which Indonesia currently lacks. He spoke as a resource person at a meeting held at the Nusantara II Building in Senayan.
“What we don’t have yet is a code of ethics for content on digital platforms,” said Prof. Ahmad Ramli.
He believes that Indonesia currently only has a journalistic code of ethics and several other regulations that do not specifically address content on digital platforms. Therefore, he believes it is crucial that the currently drafted Broadcasting Bill accommodate these needs.
“If they want, the upcoming broadcasting law should regulate such a code of ethics for them. But of course, it should be different from the code of ethics for broadcasting institutions,” he said.
Furthermore, Prof. Ahmad Ramli reminded the importance of the existence of a code of ethics as a layer of protection before digital content directly faces other laws, such as the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE), the Personal Data Protection Law, and the new Criminal Code (KUHP).
“With the ITE Law, then with the Personal Data Protection Law, and with the new Criminal Code. All the articles of the ITE Law were adopted and transferred entirely to the new Criminal Code,” he explained.
He also added that with the enactment of the new Criminal Code, a number of articles related to cybercrime in the ITE Law will no longer apply.
“And many of the cybercrime articles in the ITE Law will no longer apply when the Criminal Code comes into effect,” he concluded.
The public hearing also featured two other experts: Prof. Dr. rer. Soc. Masduki (Lecturer in Communication Studies at the Islamic University of Indonesia) and Dr. Ignatius Haryanto Djoewanto (Communication Expert from the University of Indonesia). The three were asked to provide scientific insights regarding the challenges of multiplatform broadcasting and the urgency of creating a level playing field between conventional broadcasters and digital platforms.
