Indonesian Communications ministry's IG flooded with negative comments, reverses PayPal block

Over the weekend, the Indonesian government enabled the access to PayPal after an outcry by Indonesians as they were unable to access their accounts and make purchases. The initial block came as PayPal and other online streaming services had failed in meeting licencing guidelines ordered by the government.

According to reports on The Business Times, Communications Ministry senior official at Communications Ministry in Indonesia, Semuel Abrijani Pangerapa said the government is granting access to PayPal for five working days to enable consumers to migrate to other services.

Meanwhile, the communication ministry’s Instagram page also saw a slew of negative comments emerge, criticisising the block. The move was also said to hurt the gaming industry and freelance workers using PayPal.

According to The Jakarta Post, the requirement to register comes as part of a set of rules that were first released by the Ministry of Communication and Information in November 2020. The set of rules would allow authorities to order platforms to take down content that is deemed unlawful or a disturbance to public order within four hours if considered urgent, and 24 hours otherwise. This new licensing system applies to all electronic service operators.

As of 18 July, over 5,900 domestic companies and 108 foreign companies have registered, including TikTok and Spotify, Reuters reported.

Additionally, companies may be required to disclose communications and personal data of specific users if requested by law enforcement or government agencies. According to Reuters, the new rules were formulated to ensure Internet service providers protect consumer data, and online content is used in a positive and productive way.

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