Jakarta, – The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has highlighted the dominance of global digital platforms in Indonesia’s digital ecosystem. They have become key players in various digital economic activities, yet they have not been matched by comprehensive regulations. Furthermore, digital platforms operate as substitutes for services in other sectors, such as telecommunications, advertising, and mass media.

This was conveyed by the Chairman of the KPPU, Gopprera Panggabean, in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) entitled “Digital Platform Business Competition: Building a Healthy, Competitive, and Consumer Protection-Oriented Digital Ecosystem” on Monday (31/8).

Gopprera said there are three main challenges: asymmetry between global platforms and the telecommunications industry, gatekeeper risks that allow dominant platforms to determine service access, and regulations that are still sector-specific.

“The development of the digital market requires comprehensive and adaptive regulations to create a level playing field, ensure open and non-discriminatory access, and prevent market domination,” said Gopprera.

This view has received support from Dian Siswarini, Chairwoman of the Indonesian Telecommunications Providers Association (ATSI). She emphasized that ATSI supports the government’s efforts to regulate global digital platforms, as long as the policy does not burden the public as users.

“ATSI supports the government’s efforts to organize global digital platforms to create a healthy and balanced digital ecosystem, as long as the policies implemented do not burden the public as users,” said Dian.

Dian believes that equitable connectivity is a shared responsibility. Therefore, the arrangement of digital platforms must be accompanied by the principles of a level playing field and fair share, so that global digital platforms contribute fairly to network infrastructure development and improving the quality of the public’s internet.

ATSI’s support aligns with the government’s efforts to strengthen the legal framework for digital platforms in Indonesia. Muchtarul Huda, Director of Strategy and Policy for Digital Space Supervision at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), stated that the government will revise Government Regulation No. 71 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Electronic Systems and Transactions (PSTE) as a basis for digital market supervision.

“These regulatory improvements will serve as the foundation for market and digital ecosystem oversight. Komdigi ensures that digital platforms are regulated and covered by national legal jurisdictions. These improvements are also implemented objectively and non-discriminatorily to strengthen compliance without stifling innovation or increasing consumer burdens,” said Muchtarul.

The KPPU FGD brought together representatives from parliament, regulators, consumer protection agencies, academics, and industry. Other speakers included Muhammad Husein Fadlulloh, Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives’ Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency and Member of the Artificial Intelligence Working Committee (Panja AI), Heru Sutadi of the National Consumer Protection Agency, KPPU Commissioners Mohammad Reza and Muchtarul Huda, and Prof. Ahmad M. Ramli, an academic from Padjadjaran University.