JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- APCO Indonesia in cooperation with Asosiasi Praktisi Pelindungan Data Indonesia (APPDI) and Center for Digital Society (CfDS) held the "Indonesia Data Protection Dialogue 2025: Assembling Perspectives on Data Protection in a Changing World" (IDPD 2025) on 19 February.

The event discussed collaborative approaches between stakeholder to achieve the betterment of data protection initiatives in Indonesia — delving into critical issues, exploring challenges and opportunities posed by the current landscape, including solutions provided via available and emerging technologies.

IDPD 2025 consisted of two panel sessions involving government, industry, associations and subject-matter experts — including from Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital (Kemenkomdigi), Badan Siber dan Sandi Negara (BSSN), Indonesian E-Commerce Association (idEA), PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GoTo), Asosiasi Digital Trust Indonesia (ADTI), and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The first panel, "Data in a Changing Global Landscape" discussed data as a critical global asset, underscoring the importance of robust data protection to sustain Indonesia's digital transformation. A major discussion point was the critical need to uphold the free flow of data to enhance digital service delivery and cybersecurity more generally. It was emphasized that regulations enforcing data localization could hinder innovation and economic growth. The second panel, "Cross-Sector Collaboration for Data Protection", emphasized the importance of data protection infrastructure cohesiveness, highlighting the best practices available to explore.

Alexander Sabar, Director General of Digital Space Supervision from Kemenkomdigi underscored the government's commitment in strengthening data protection, "We believe that the challenges we face in data protection can be solved if the government, businesses, and non-governmental organizations work together. We are continuing to work on the implementing regulations of the PDP Law and hope to implement them soon as a mark of our commitment."

Anastasia Putri, Associate Director from APCO Indonesia emphasized, "We're excited to introduce the inaugural Indonesia Data Protection Dialogue. We want to create an opportunity for thought leaders to dive deeper into the topic of data protection, discuss the current regulations and future rollouts, and raise awareness around the topic."

Indonesia' digital economy is undergoing rapid development and is expected to peak in 2030. All the while, issues of data leaks and cybercrime continues to be issues that strip away the exponential benefits of this rapid growth. The Indonesian government has rolled out policies in response to various incidents, though awareness is still on the rise.

Raditya Kosasih, Co-Founder of APPDI said, "Data protection is not merely a legal obligation, but it should be seen as a strategy to increase trust given the rapid digital developments in Indonesia and the world. This Dialogue is essential to ensure that there is strong alignment between data protection practitioners, policymakers, and industries on how to better implement data protection practices."

Hafiz Noer, Head of Research for Center for Digital Society (CfDS), stated, "It is key that we build an open line of communication, ensuring continued collaboration and input between all relevant parties. This is true for the topic of data protection as it increasingly becomes a hot topic in our society today, including for local digital businesses looking to align themselves with international standards.

About

• APCO Indonesia is a global advisory and advocacy firm dedicated to helping clients navigate complex challenges and achieve meaningful and lasting impact. We have supported organizations in managing the repercussions of data breaches stemming from unsustainable data protection practices.
• Asosiasi Praktisi Pelindungan Data Indonesia (APPDI) is a forum for data protection practitioners who have concerns or interest in the field of privacy and personal data protection in Indonesia. APPDI was established for Data Protection Officers (DPOs) and practitioners who practice in Indonesia. In addition, APPDI works closely with all stakeholders regarding the development of data protection policies in Indonesia.
• Center for Digital Society (CfDS) is a research center established by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The center is created under the concern over the contemporary dynamics of global socio-political conditions that are impacted by information technology.

 

Source: APCO