Netflix Sparks Controversy in Indonesia

Ilustrasi (dok)

JAKARTA (IndoTelko) - Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Rudiantara still unable to determine the fate of Netflix streaming and video on demand service in Indonesia despite a number of parties demand to halt it while completing regulations.

"We have prepared, but they (Netflix) launched first. Now we are preparing the regulations," the minister yesterday.

Unfortunately, Rudiantara unable to ensure will he stop the Netflix service while completing regulation. The initial signs are the emerging of regulation that will regulate the Netflix issue should be formed as a permanent business establishment (BUT) in Indonesia and use Rupiah for its transaction.

Second, content censoring will have its own mechanism. "Is the Indonesian Film Censorship Board (LSF) would censor both foreign and domestic films before airing, we cannot do that, then we must make the mechanism, the control mechanisms is still there, but it's easier," he explained.

Third, Netflix and other similar services cannot be governed by a law of relevant institutions only. There are three related laws namely the Telecommunication, electronic Transaction Information (ITE) and the Broadcasting Laws.

President and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo, Alexander Rusli admit, although it can bring in traffic, Netflix still must comply with the applicable regulation corridors in Indonesia.

"It is a regulation, anyone who practices broadcasting in Indonesia must meet the permit. So in principle it should be regulated, but it should be fair treatment," he said.

Earlier, the Indonesian Telematics Society (Mastel) have asked Netflix to stop their service because it has not fulfilled a number of regulations yet.

MASTEL Chairman Kristiono asked the government through the Ministry of Communication needs to campaign for mutual respect and mutual benefit in the context of international relations Indonesia with various content providers or over the top / OTT.

Netflix should be subject to the same provisions to the cinema service providers and other pay-TV operator or the perpetrators of trade transactions that receive payments from customers.

"Netflix is one example of global trade actors that extend the list of foreign OTT by bypassing various aspects of compliance regulations prevailing in Indonesia. All this time the government is very strictly in enforcing these regulations to the film industry players, telecommunications, broadcasting operators or pay TV," he explained.

Film Censorship Board (LSF) also reminded that film broadcast in Indonesia is bound by the provisions of Law No. 33 Year 2009 on Film in particular Article 57 which states, each film and advertisement films must obtain the censor mark pass before distributed or exhibited.

Other binding provision is by the Government Regulation No. 18 Year 2014 concerning the Film Censorship Board. (Id)