Personal Data Protection Bill Hampered by Arduous Discussions on Management

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) legislation body (Baleg) deputy, Willy Aditya, on Thursday said that sessions regarding the Personal Data Protection Bill are currently hampered by talks about which independent institution will end up managing the personal data. 

“The government wants this institution to be overseen by a State Ministry but House legislators rejected that idea. This is where the push-and-pull takes place,” said Aditya in the public legislation forum discussion held virtually on March 24. 

According to Aditya, the factor regarding independent data management is explained in the general data protection regulation (GDPR) - adopted by the European Union - that is used as Indonesia’s benchmark for the formation of this crucial Bill. Willy ensured that this is the only remaining aspect that is currently discussed. 

“There must be a credible institution that acts as an authority over data management. That is the only crucial point,” said the NasDem Party legislator. 

Moreover, Formappi researcher Lucius Karus during the same public discussion criticized DPR’s work related to the legislation and argued that legislators are not prioritizing this Bill enough as it is actually needed by the general public. 

"It is ironic that our own House of Representatives are showing signs that they are political party representatives instead of representing us the people,” he said.

In the past two years, House members have put first passing other laws that are more crucial for the government, instead of the people, which are the Job Creation Act and Capital City Act. 

Read: Massive Data Breach Calls for Urgent Personal Data Protection Law

MOH KHORY ALFARIZI