For The Sake Of Trade With The US, Data On Indonesian Citizens Victims? IDEALS Raises Voice!

JAKARTA - Indonesian Development Economics and Law Studies (IDEALS) has made strong criticism of the clause of the Indonesia-United States trade agreement which is considered to open a gap in the submission of Indonesian citizens' personal data (WNI) to foreign companies, especially from the US.

IDEALS senior researcher, HMU Kurniadi, assessed that the clause weakens national data sovereignty. In a written statement, he highlighted articles in the plan for an import rate agreement that allowed American companies to access Indonesian user data in the name of removing barriers to digital trade.

"This is very dangerous. The government should not rashly submit personal data from Indonesian citizens for short-term trade incentives," Kurniadi said in a written statement received in Jakarta, Monday, July 28.

According to him, residents' personal data is strategic assets that must be closely maintained, especially when dependence on foreign digital platforms continues to increase.

He reminded that Indonesia already has Law Number 27 of 2022 concerning Personal Data Protection (UU PDP). This regulation prohibits cross-border data transfer without guaranteeing equal protection. If this agreement is continued without revision, the government will not only violate the law, but also betray the digital rights of citizens," said Kurniadi.

IDEALS urges the government to immediately review a reciprocal agreement requiring Indonesia to recognize the United States as a jurisdiction with adequate data protection standards. The government is also encouraged to reopen negotiations by making data sovereignty the main principle.

This criticism arose in the public spotlight over a new trade agreement that set Indonesia's import rate at 19 percent, while the import rate from the United States was 0 percent. This agreement is said to mean the transfer of citizens' personal data to the US, which is considered a sacrifice of national digital interests.