TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Nezar Patria urged the public not to misinterpret the clause on personal data transfer in the reciprocal trade agreement between Indonesia and the United States.
He emphasized that the government does not allow other countries unrestricted access to Indonesian citizens’ personal data.
Nezar clarified that the agreement is still being discussed and has not been finalized.
"Yesterday’s meeting was only a general discussion. The negotiating team is now working out the technical details," Nezar said at the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) office in Central Jakarta on Monday, July 28, 2025.
He added that Indonesia already has the Personal Data Protection Law, which guarantees user data confidentiality. As such, he said the public should not question the government’s commitment to upholding data sovereignty.
According to Nezar, the data transfer in the agreement pertains to commercial activities, such as when users access search engines based in the United States. This interaction requires input data that is then stored by the platform.
In contrast, Executive Director of SAFEnet Nenden Sekar Arum criticized the agreement’s contents. She described the clause on personal data transfer as a potentially harmful policy that may violate digital rights.
"SAFEnet believes the agreement between Indonesia and the United States risks turning personal data into a tradeable commodity," Nenden told Tempo on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
She called on the government to clarify the legal foundation for the agreement and ensure adequate safeguards for personal data. According to her, any international agreement involving data must include the consent of data owners and be developed transparently with public involvement.
Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Viada Hafid previously confirmed that the agreement does not imply an uncontrolled submission of personal data.
"The government guarantees that data transfer to the United States will not be done carelessly," Meutya said in a written statement on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
She noted that the trade pact is still being finalized and technical discussions are ongoing.
Meutya, a Golkar Party politician, explained that cross-border data transfers are permissible when supported by a clear legal basis, are limited in scope, and serve justifiable purposes, such as accessing platforms like Google or Bing.
She said that the agreement aims to provide legal protection for Indonesian citizens’ data when using digital services from US-based companies.
"The entire process is carried out under secure and accountable data governance, without compromising the rights of citizens," Meutya said.
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