Jakarta – The House of Representatives Commission I’s efforts to revise the Broadcasting Law have received widespread support from the national broadcasting industry. This revision is considered crucial to prevent the misuse of digital platforms and clarify the boundaries of authority between supervisory institutions in the era of multiplatform media.
Abraham Sridjaja, a member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), stated that the definition of broadcasting in the Broadcasting Bill (RUU) needs to be clarified to avoid ambiguity in its application. He noted that the current legal vacuum has resulted in an imbalance in oversight between conventional media and over-the-top (OTT) digital platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Netflix.
“There’s a legal vacuum. Conventional TV stations feel like they’re the only ones being monitored, while digital platforms aren’t. If they were all combined, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) would become a superpower. Therefore, OTT should be regulated under a separate law,” Abraham said at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta.
According to him, unifying television content and digital platforms into a single regulation risks creating overlapping authority between institutions such as the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), the Press Council, and the Directorate of Digital Space Supervision under the Ministry of Communication and Informatics.
Abraham also highlighted the proliferation of vulgar content circulating on digital platforms, which lack firm regulation. He suggested the government consider creating a specific law on digital broadcasting to accommodate the public’s need for protection without compromising freedom of expression.
“If it’s to be included, it must be clear from the start. The title must also be changed, for example, to ‘Broadcasting and Digital Content Bill.’ Otherwise, this will create a conflict of authority,” he stressed.
Support for the House of Representatives’ move also came from industry circles. The Indonesian Private Television Association (ATVSI) stated that the revision of the Broadcasting Law was urgent, given that the process had been delayed for 13 years. ATVSI Secretary General Gilang Iskandar welcomed the House’s efforts to adapt broadcasting regulations to the digital era.
“ATVSI welcomes the efforts of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives to complete the revision of the UUP because this process has been ongoing for around 13 years,” he said at a dialogue forum between the DPR and broadcasting stakeholders in North Sumatra.
Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dave Laksono, confirmed that this revision was a parliamentary initiative to ensure that national broadcasting regulations are not left behind by the times.
“Through this forum, we hope that input from broadcasting stakeholders can strengthen the final formulation of the law,” he said.
With the increasing consumption of digital content by the public, the establishment of a clear and progressive legal framework is an urgent need. The House of Representatives’ commitment to quickly finalize the revision of the Broadcasting Law is also seen as a positive signal towards a healthier, more transparent, and inclusive media ecosystem.
