Govt urges digital platforms' transparency to safeguard users' rights

  Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has called on electronic system providers operating social media platforms to prioritize transparency to protect users' rights.

This transparency standard should go beyond explaining how algorithms moderate and recommend content. Platforms must also provide a clear appeals process for content creators to support freedom of expression and opinion in line with prevailing regulations.

"Platforms must protect the rights of digital platform users. They also have a responsibility to explain how content is recommended," the ministry's Director for Partnerships, Institutional Communication, and Public Relations, Marroli Jeni Indarto, said in Jakarta on Thursday.

He added that platform providers also share responsibility to explain their content moderation mechanisms, how AI is used and, more importantly, to ensure a system is in place to address user grievances.

According to him, the government has recently received numerous reports from Indonesian netizens facing shadow bans on several digital platforms when expressing their opinions online.

He noted that such issues often stem from platform-specific policies, such as community guidelines.

Therefore, the ministry reminded members of the public encountering such issues to submit an appeal to the platform as creators.

Marroli further said the government remains committed to creating a healthy, safe, and ethical digital space, including supporting freedom of expression and opinion.

He stressed that the government urges digital platform operators to be transparent about their content moderation and recommendation mechanisms so that members of the public gain clarity and can exercise their rights, especially when voicing opinions online.

"At the ministry, we consistently push for platform transparency, particularly regarding business processes like algorithms. After all, as users, we have a right to know when action is taken against our content," Marroli said.