Bahlil To TikTok About Permission: Already Social Media Aja, Don't Monopolize Business

Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia (Photo: dock. VOI)

JAKARTA - Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia reminded TikTok not to carry out a business monopoly. This statement responds to TikTok's news that it will apply for an e-commerce business license so that TikTok Shop services can return to running.

"Don't make this TikTok if it's social media, just social media. Don't be a monopoly. This nation should not be too regulated," he said when met in the Plataran City Forest, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 25.

Furthermore, Bahlil himself admitted that he had not received a permit from TikTok to run a business as an e-commerce in Indonesia.

"Not yet. All permits in this republic must go through OSS (online single submission)," he said.

Even so, Bahlil said that even if TikTok wanted to apply for a business license as an e-commerce, it had to meet several requirements according to government regulations.

However, continued Bahlil, even if TikTok had fulfilled the statement, they would not have been immediately given permission.

"We'll see later, yes, there are some that can't be done," he said.

For your information, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is rumored to be meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in November 2023. During the meeting, the plan was to discuss TikTok's plan to make e-commerce after previously TikTok Shop services were banned some time ago.

Previously, TikTok Indonesia officially closed the TikTok Shop service in its application. This closure is a follow-up to the enactment of the Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 31 of 2023. However, recently on social media, news circulated that the service would reopen on November 10, 2023.

Responding to this news, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan admitted that he had not heard the news. He also said that until now TikTok had not applied for a business license as an e-commerce.

"Not yet (promoting permission as e-commerce). I also haven't heard (TikTok Shop service will operate again)," he said when met at the Mulia Hotel, Jakarta, Friday, October 13.

Even so, Zulhas, as he is familiarly called, said that if TikTok wanted to apply for its business license as an e-commerce, the government would serve it.

Furthermore, Zulhas also emphasized that the government does not prohibit TikTok Shop but arranges it to be more organized. The government also separates permits between social media, social-commerce, and e-commerce.

"Yes, of course if there is, so once again we don't forbid it, we organize it. If anyone wants to take care of the government, it's their job to serve. But yes, we have to follow government regulations," he said.