- 27/10/2022
- Category: Press Release
Youtube Channel CfDS, October 20, 2022 – The action of ‘deleting personal data on the internet to clear someone’s name’ has become quite common. However, there are pros and cons behind the process. The Center for Digital Society – through Difussion #81 – held a discussion entitled “Digital Human Rights: How the State Protects Its Netizens?”, to find out what steps the government can take to provide ease and security for the internet users in Indonesia. Diffusion #81 was enlivened by CfDS Research Interns – M. Irfan Dwi Putra and Alifian Arrazi. The discussion was also moderated by I Komang Restu Adi, as the CfDS Intern Partnership. This interesting discussion can be accessed again via the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfVX0NYt93o.
The Right to Be Forgotten Concept in Action for Deleting Personal Data on the Internet
The discussion began with M. Irfan Dwi Putra’s talk, in which he sparked a conversation through the introduction of the Right to Be Forgotten (RTBF) concept. This concept, in essence, is one of the aspects in human rights; Where a person has the right to delete their personal data uploaded on the internet. Irfan took the audience to where the RTBF concept first got introduced, both in the world and in Indonesia.
Departing from there, Irfan began to discuss the existence of the RTBF concept in the digital ecosystem in Indonesia. RTBF emerged in Indonesia after the ITE Law (2008). The concept of RTBF in Indonesia (in the ITE Law) has received a lot of criticism, because its ‘scope’ is too broad. RTBF has the potential to be misused by irresponsible parties.
Nevertheless, “The Indonesian government has presented innovations that could extensify the protection of human rights for the community (especially in the digital realm), which is by legalising the Personal Data Protection Law (UU PDP)”, said Irfan. This law will later regulate the rights of personal data subjects, control of personal data, requirements for personal data deletion, legal purposes behind personal data deletion, as well as general procedures of personal data deletion.
“Through the implementation of the PDP Law, there will be clear boundaries regarding the categories of personal data that can be deleted, so that the function of RTBF wouldn’t be misused for crimes,” Irfan continued. To wrap up his presentation, Irfan suggested that the personal data erasure process needs to be strengthened with sufficient legal basis and strict follow-up regulations.
The Government’s Services of Personal Data Protection for the Indonesian People
Alifian Arrazi enriched the discussion by inserting another point of view – public policy. He began his discussion by exploring the reality of digitalization in Indonesia, and how the government is responding to it. Alifian stated that the digitization impact in Indonesia was initiated by the digital services from private companies (such as Google, Safari, and others alike). After the resulting impact was quite massive, the government ‘copied’ the digital logic concept of the private companies; For example, by also providing digital-based public services. However, ironically, the digitization built by the government actually led to issues; One of them is the data leakage case.
Alifian explained that the digital world presents opportunities and challenges for the public sector. “The government needs to implement a strategy in order to create digital innovations that can transform the governance efficiency,” said Alifian. Even so, the government must also consider the digital security in the services provided.
Alifian offers an innovation, which is by initiating a tool that allows the public to only register one data (account), where it will be distributed to various government services (single sign on). “This SSO concept can bring efficiency and effectiveness of government digital services to the community,” Alifian explained. Furthermore, Alifian suggested that the government needs to build a new independent institution that regulates the protection and security of personal data. The government also needs to provide privacy guarantees, regarding people’s personal data; So that the government does not misuse them.
Writer: Allysa Putri Rendry
Editor: Firya Qurratu’ain Abisono
