Chromebook Project Called Beneficial for Corporations, Schools Are Victims

JAKARTA - Indonesian Audit Watch (IAW) assesses the Chromebook procurement project in the education digitization program worth Rp. 17.42 trillion is a reflection of the failure of public policy governance that has been repeated for a decade.

IAW Founding Secretary Iskandar Sitorus said the pandemic indeed forced the country to take quick steps in the implementation of distance education. However, according to him, the policy on the procurement of technology devices should still depart from careful planning and field needs.

"Schools are used as markets, policies are used as an entry point, and children are used as justifications," said Iskandar, Sunday, December 21.

Iskandar revealed that the Financial Audit Agency (BPK) had repeatedly given warnings regarding the education digitization project since around 2014. However, the findings were considered never to have been followed up seriously by the government.

"The BPK data is clear. Planning is not based on real needs, specifications are locked on certain brands or platforms, service and license costs are not transparent, many assets are idle or damaged early, and supervision and evaluation of benefits are very weak," he said.

IAW noted that a similar pattern emerged in various information and communication technology projects in the education sector, ranging from the procurement of school computer laboratories, online learning systems for ministries and agencies, to e-government projects and government cloud services.

"A decade has passed, the pattern has not changed. The Chromebook is just the most expensive and most daring version of an old disease. It's not about choosing the wrong laptop, but giving up control," said Iskandar.

IAW also highlighted the Attorney General's statement which confirmed that Chrome Device Management or Chrome Education Upgrade is not just an additional cost, but part of the construction of alleged criminal acts and components of state losses.

According to Iskandar, this practice in the audit and competition law is known as vendor lock-in which is created through public policy. He assessed that the BPK in various audit reports had long warned of the risks of system dependence, recurring costs, and loss of technological sovereignty.

"In this case, the need is engineered, not assessed. In areas with limited internet, Chromebooks are still forced. Problems are created, then the solution is sold," he said.

He added that the licensing mechanism through CDM or CEU makes the serial number of the device as a control tool, which ultimately benefits certain corporations systematically.

"The procurement platform does not automatically guarantee healthy competition if the specifications are locked from upstream. The state only takes care of the cashier, while the market has been regulated beforehand. This is already a corporate crime," said Iskandar.

IAW reminded that Article 20 of the Corruption Criminal Law opens up the possibility of prosecution against corporations if they gain profits, cause state losses, and the act is carried out for the benefit of the corporation. In addition, the Supreme Court Regulation Number 13 of 2016 allows for the seizure of assets, the imposition of large fines, and the revocation of business licenses.

In the Chromebook procurement value chain, Iskandar said there were platform owners, license managers, integrators, marketplaces, and manufacturers who all enjoyed the economic benefits of the policy design.

"Education is not a source of income and audit is not a formality. If law enforcement stops at procedures and individuals alone, then history will continue to repeat itself," he said.

IAW also encourages law enforcement officials to thoroughly examine the involvement of corporations in this case.

"For the sake of the law, corporations must be investigated. This is not a political choice, but a legal obligation," said Iskandar.