Indonesia eyes detailed national regulation on artificial intelligence

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is set to draft a more detailed and comprehensive regulation on the use and control of artificial intelligence (AI).

During a meeting in his office in Jakarta on Monday (January 6), Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) Nezar Patria invited Presidential Special Staff for Creative Economy Yovie Widiyanto to partake in the drafting of such a regulation.

"We may draft either a presidential regulation or a ministerial one as a more detailed provision," he pointed out.

The deputy minister also highlighted that the planned regulation would complement a circular letter on AI ethics issued by the government in 2023.

"The circular letter has been quite well received by the public. However, it remains crucial that the government implement a more detailed regulation in response to the increasing popularity of AI in Indonesia," he noted in the ministry's statement cited here on Tuesday.

He underlined that a more detailed regulation is required to help the public utilize the cutting-edge digital technology responsibly.

Komdigi Ministry's Secretary-General Mira Tayyiba, for her part, noted that her side has opted for a horizontal approach to govern technology utilization, aligning with Law No. 11 of 2008 concerning electronic information and transactions and Law No. 27 of 2002 on personal data protection.

"As for technical matters, like the use of AI in the health and education sectors, we will resort to a technical use case," she stated.

Tayyiba then affirmed that synergy and collaboration among ministries and other institutions are the key for Indonesia to regulate the adoption of AI properly.

"Considering that AI-related issues are not to be taken lightly, we believe that working alone is not a viable option," she stressed.