JakartaPost-Feb 14, 2023

Indonesian media players are pressing for the long-awaited media sustainability bill to include more responsibilities for big-tech platforms such as transparency in ads revenue-sharing and algorithm tweaks, which are currently absent from the draft already prepared by the government. Currently, there are two competing drafts being discussed, one prepared by the Communications and Information Ministry and the other by members of the Press Council together with media associations, both of which were submitted to the State Secretariat in late January. A seven-page ministry draft seen by The Jakarta Post only comprises “agreements on remuneration or other forms” of compensation and was considered by many to be “too simplified”, whereas the media community expects a “clearer legal umbrella”. The industry-forwarded proposal seen by the Post, meanwhile, stipulates sharing of advertising revenue and algorithm transparency, among other reforms on top of a mere remuneration arrangement. The ministry’s draft said negotiations between media and tech firms would be mediated by the council, but no specific mechanism was outlined. Meanwhile, the industry’s draft mentioned platforms could make a blanket initial price offering, which if rejected by news outlets could be continued with negotiations up to a dispute settlement involving an independent third party to ensure there would be a binding result regardless of the outcome. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2023/02/14/news-firms-push-for-a-rule-on-ads-revenue-sharing-and-algorithm-in-big-tech.html.