TLDR: The Indonesian government is actively developing a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to establish a foundational legal framework for its ethical use and development. This regulation will focus on guidelines and restrictions for AI in critical areas such as education, health, agriculture, and transportation, incorporating a ‘sandboxing’ mechanism for technology testing. This initiative complements a national AI roadmap and aims to ensure responsible AI adoption while mitigating risks.
JAKARTA – The Indonesian government is in the advanced stages of drafting a comprehensive Presidential Regulation (Perpres) on Artificial Intelligence (AI), set to become the country’s initial legal framework for the widespread adoption and development of AI technologies across various sectors. This significant move aims to provide clear guidelines and ensure responsible innovation in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, confirmed that a primary focus of this upcoming regulation is to establish ethical guidelines and impose necessary restrictions on AI applications within strategic sectors. These include, but are not limited to, education, healthcare, agriculture, and transportation. Patria emphasized the need to anticipate and address crucial aspects of AI development, stating, “Well, we have to anticipate some that are quite crucial and critical of AI development. Especially how to regulate its adoption in the sectors. For example in the education sector, what do and don’t know there, what should be considered.”
A key feature of the proposed regulation is the inclusion of a ‘sandboxing mechanism’. This will allow for the thorough testing and validation of AI technologies in a controlled environment before their broader implementation across various industries. This proactive approach is designed to ensure the safety, reliability, and ethical compliance of AI systems before they impact public life.
The drafting of this Presidential Regulation is being conducted in parallel with the development of a national AI roadmap. This roadmap, which will serve as the overarching legal basis for AI regulation, is being formulated through a ‘bottom-up’ approach, incorporating diverse input from a wide array of stakeholders. These include representatives from industry, the technology community, academic institutions, and research bodies, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive framework.
Furthermore, the new AI regulation is intended to complement and integrate with existing legal frameworks in Indonesia. It will work in conjunction with laws such as the Copyright Law, the Personal Data Protection Law (PDP), and other technical regulations governing digital platform operators, as well as previously issued guidelines on AI ethics. This layered approach aims to create a robust and cohesive regulatory environment for AI.
The government’s push for this regulation follows increasing calls for strong frameworks to protect user data and manage AI development responsibly. This urgency was further highlighted by the recent launch of the Indonesia AI Center of Excellence on July 11, a collaborative effort between the Communications and Digital Ministry, Nvidia, and Cisco. This center is tasked with conducting ethical audits in AI use, standardizing technology, ensuring safety measures, and fostering AI talent through scholarships and educational programs. Nezar Patria underscored the center’s role, stating, “The center is not an isolated initiative. It will act as an implementation arm to directly translate our upcoming national AI roadmap into actionable and concrete programs.”
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While the national AI roadmap is anticipated to be launched by the end of July, a specific timeline for the issuance of the Presidential Regulation has not yet been provided. This initiative marks a significant step for Indonesia in positioning itself as a forward-thinking nation committed to harnessing AI’s potential responsibly while mitigating associated risks.
