Follow us on Google News
Technology giants Google, Meta and TikTok have raised objections to proposed changes to Indonesia’s copyright law that would require digital platforms to compensate news publishers for certain uses of their content and introduce new rules governing artificial intelligence.
Representatives of the three companies expressed their concerns during a parliamentary hearing in Jakarta on November 11, 2026. Their opposition comes as Indonesia considers introducing copyright provisions specifically addressing AI-generated content and the use of protected material in developing AI systems.
The proposed legislation could make Indonesia one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to explicitly recognise artificial intelligence within its copyright framework. However, the companies argue that some provisions could create technical difficulties, restrict access to information and complicate the operation of digital platforms.
Proposed Rules Could Require Payments To News Publishers
Indonesia’s proposed copyright revisions seek to address growing concerns about how technology companies use journalism and other copyrighted material.
One major proposal would require digital platforms to compensate publishers when their news content is displayed or used in certain ways.
The issue has become increasingly important as online platforms influence how readers discover and access journalism.
Search engines, social media services and AI-powered applications can display headlines, summaries and links that direct users towards published articles.
News organisations argue that technology companies benefit commercially from this content, while publishers bear the costs of reporting and producing it.
The proposed Indonesian framework could introduce additional payment obligations for platforms using protected material.
However, technology companies have questioned whether the legislation sufficiently distinguishes between reproducing copyrighted work and directing users to the original source.
That distinction is central to the disagreement because displaying a link can help publishers attract readers, whereas republishing substantial portions of an article may reduce the need to visit the publisher’s website.
Google And Meta Warn Against Mandatory Compensation
During the parliamentary hearing, Google’s Indonesia government affairs and public policy manager, Agung Pamungkas, raised concerns about requiring platforms to compensate publishers for displaying news links.
Google argued that such obligations could make it harder for Indonesian users to discover and access news through digital services.
The company also expressed concerns about restrictions affecting the use of locally produced content in AI development.
According to Google’s position, overly restrictive rules could make it more difficult to develop AI tools capable of understanding and responding accurately in Indonesian.
Meta raised similar objections.
Berni Moestafa, Meta’s public policy head in Indonesia, warned that mandatory compensation arrangements could have unintended consequences for news organisations.
Meta argued that platforms might reduce the visibility of news links if displaying them created substantial additional financial obligations.
Such changes could affect the traffic publishers receive from social media and, consequently, their advertising or subscription revenue.
The company also emphasised that directing readers to a publisher’s website is different from reproducing the article itself.
These arguments reflect the broader disagreement between technology companies and news publishers over who should receive the economic benefits generated when journalism circulates online.
TikTok Seeks Different Rules For AI-Assisted Content
TikTok’s objections focused partly on how the proposed law would regulate content created with artificial intelligence.
Noudhy Valdryno, the company’s head of public policy in Indonesia, argued that disclosure requirements should distinguish between material generated substantially by AI and content created by people using AI as an assisting tool.
The distinction has become increasingly relevant as creators use AI for editing, translation, image enhancement and other routine production activities.
Treating every use of AI as equivalent to fully automated content generation could create additional obligations for businesses and individual creators.
TikTok also urged lawmakers to preserve legal protections commonly described as safe-harbour provisions.
These protections can limit a platform’s legal responsibility for content uploaded by users when specified conditions are met.
The company argued that digital platforms cannot always determine who owns the copyright to particular material or whether users possess the necessary licences.
Without appropriate safeguards, platforms could face legal uncertainty over material uploaded by millions of users.
The debate therefore extends beyond major technology companies to the responsibilities of online intermediaries, independent creators and businesses using AI tools.
What This Means For You
Indonesia’s proposed legislation reflects an international debate over how copyright law should respond to artificial intelligence and the growing influence of digital platforms.
For publishers and content creators, stronger rules could provide additional opportunities to seek compensation when protected material is used commercially.
For AI developers, however, extensive licensing obligations may increase the cost and complexity of developing models and digital services.
The issue also carries relevance for India, where policymakers, publishers and technology companies are examining questions surrounding AI training, copyright ownership and compensation for original content.
Indonesia has not yet finalised the proposed changes, and the parliamentary process may lead to further revisions.
The eventual outcome could influence how other Asian countries approach the balance between protecting creators’ rights, supporting local AI development and maintaining access to online information.
