President Jokowi Signs Presidential Regulation on Publisher Rights for Quality Journalism

President Jokowi accompanied by Minister of Communications and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung gives a press statement after attending the Peak Commemoration of the 2024 National Press Day, at Econventional Hall, Ecopark Ancol, Jakarta, Tuesday (02/20). (Photo by: Cabinet Secretariat’s Public Relations/Oji)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had signed Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 32 of 2024 on the Responsibilities of Digital Platform Companies to Support Quality Journalism or Presidential Regulation on Publisher Rights. The President stated that the issuance of this regulation which can be accessed on the Cabinet Secretariat’s Legal Documentation and Information Network (JDIH Setkab) page is one of the Government’s efforts to realize quality journalism and the sustainability of conventional media industry in Indonesia.

“After a long time, after going through a long debate, yesterday I finally signed the Presidential Regulation on the Responsibilities of Digital Platform [Companies] to Support Quality Journalism, or what we know as the Presidential Regulation on Publisher Rights,” said the President at the Peak Commemoration of the 2024 National Press Day, Tuesday (02/20), at Ecoventional Hall, Ecopark Ancol, Jakarta.

The President said that this regulation went through a very long consideration process to be approved, starting from differences of opinion, differences in aspirations, and consideration of implications, to encouragement from various parties.

“After a point of understanding was reached, a common ground was reached, plus the Press Council continuously pushed for the regulation, as did representatives of press companies and representatives of media associations, finally yesterday I signed the Presidential Regulation,” said the President.

Through this Presidential Regulation, the President said that the Government wants to ensure that journalism in Indonesia grows in quality and is far from negative content. Additionally, the Government also wants to ensure the sustainability of the national media industry.

“We want fairer cooperation between media companies and digital platform companies, we want to provide a clear general framework for cooperation between both companies,” he said.

The President also emphasized that the Presidential Regulation does not aim to reduce press freedom and regulate press content. In this Presidential Regulation, the Government regulates business relationships between media companies and digital platform companies to improve quality journalism.

“I also need to remind you about the implementation of this Presidential Regulation. We still have to anticipate risks that might occur, especially during the transition period for the implementation of this Presidential Regulation, both regarding the response from digital platform companies and the response from the community using the services,” said the President.

Furthermore, the President said that the Government continuously looks for solutions and develops policies for domestic media companies, among others by instructing Minister of Communications and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi to prioritize the Government’s advertising spending for media companies.

“I have said this many times, at least for short-term buffer. Indeed, this does not solve the problem as a whole, media companies and all of us still have to think about how to deal with this digital transformation,” said the President.

Meanwhile, the President asked content creators in Indonesia not to worry about the promulgation of the Presidential Regulation on Publisher Rights. The President said that the Presidential Regulation does not apply to content creators.

“Please keep on your collaboration that has been running so far with digital platform companies. Please keep it on because there is no problem,” he said. (FID/UN) (TM/MMB)