Indonesia must take a bold step on regulation to shape the future of AI

September 17, 2024

TANGERANG – Rapid advancement in artificial intelligence brings both opportunities and risks to Indonesia. Imagine finding your face in a viral deepfake video you never authorized or being denied a job by an AI system with hidden biases. These scenarios are becoming a reality as AI reshapes our world.

From health care to criminal justice, AI’s influence continues to grow, often imperceptibly. Without proper oversight, this technology could widen social divides, compromise privacy and concentrate power in the hands of a few tech giants.

Government regulation is therefore crucial to ensure AI serves the public good and that individual rights are protected in our increasingly automated society.

The European Union has taken a bold step with its new AI Act, which entered into force on Aug. 1. This comprehensive law aims to create a unified rule book for AI systems across all 27 EU countries. It categorizes AI systems based on their potential risks: Unacceptable, high, limited or minimal. Some harmful AI practices are banned outright, while high-risk systems face strict requirements. The law also pushes for more transparency in specific AI applications and establishes new regulatory bodies to oversee compliance and foster cooperation between member states.

Australia has also joined the regulatory efforts. Its federal government has proposed mandatory safeguards for high-risk AI systems and a voluntary safety standard for organizations using AI. The Australian approach outlines 10 interconnected guidelines that set clear expectations for everyone in the AI supply chain, emphasizing accountability, transparency and human oversight.

For Indonesia, these global developments, coupled with our own Data Protection