Exclusive, Chairman of KTP2JB Suprapto Sastro Atmojo: Sad, ART Even Eliminates Presidential Decree No. 32

Various reactions were made regarding the signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between Indonesia and the United States. According to the Chairman of the Committee on Corporate Responsibility of Digital Platforms to Support Quality Journalism (KTP2JB) or Publisher Right, Dr. Suprapto Sastro Atmojo, the contents of this agreement are very different from Presidential Decree No. 32 of 2024. Is this ART really a "death bell" for the Indonesian press?

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Therefore, Suprapto Sastro Atmojo urged parties with the authority to evaluate this ART and think and act wisely. The reason is, this agreement is clearly different or even contrary to the existing legal product, namely Presidential Decree No. 32 of 2024 concerning the Responsibility of Digital Platform Companies to Support Quality Journalism.

In this Presidential Decree, he said, it is clear that global digital platforms operating in Indonesia are obliged to synergize with the press and press companies in Indonesia. Meanwhile, in this ART the content is the opposite; there is no longer any obligation for global platforms to synergize.

Therefore, he urged that this ART be reviewed and improved so that the Indonesian press can run according to the expectations in Presidential Regulation No. 32 of 2024.

"So ART is contrary to Presidential Regulation No. 32 of 2024. Even though the Presidential Regulation is a regulation made by the state, why doesn't the state see it? We have protested about these different things. We in the Committee are trying to hold hearings with various parties as to why this can happen," he said.

Regarding the fact that there are a number of parties who suspect that this ART is a "death bell" that is sounded for the press, Suprapto accepted it openly. "Yes, there are those who have that view, it's okay. We are free to express our views. We will try to have this agreement reviewed," he told Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Meidianto when they visited the VOI office in Tanah Abang, Jakarta, not long ago.

As an institution born from the mandate of the Presidential Decree on Publisher Rights, what are the concrete achievements that KTP2JB has made so far in overseeing the responsibilities of digital platforms?

KTP2JB or the Publisher Rights Committee was born after the issuance of Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 32 of 2024 concerning the Responsibility of Digital Platform Companies to Support Quality Journalism. This presidential regulation was signed on February 20, 2024 and is valid starting August 20, 2024. At that time, this was conveyed by President Jokowi on the 2024 National Press Day (HPN) in Ancol, Jakarta.

This Presidential Regulation did not appear suddenly, but through a long process of about four years. At the 2020 HPN in Banjarmasin, President Jokowi responded to the voice of the press community who asked the state to intervene because of the unfair relationship between global digital platforms and press companies in Indonesia.

Until now, content has been created by the press company - they pay the salaries of journalists and it is a big effort - but the distribution is controlled by digital platforms. Because they control technology and content distribution, they also control the source of income. As a result, press companies work hard, but digital platforms enjoy quite a large income. That's why there needs to be regulation.

"Will the Perpres Publisher Rights be present?

Yes. This Presidential Regulation is inspired by several countries that regulate similar things, such as Australia, several European countries, Canada, and others. That is what underlies the birth of Presidential Regulation No. 32 of 2024.

What is regulated in this Presidential Decree?

First, about digital platforms; second, what kind of cooperation is there between the press company and digital platforms; third, about the committee; and fourth, about funding.

Digital platforms are given obligations that are fully regulated in Article 5 of Presidential Regulation No. 32 of 2024. There are six obligations that must be carried out by digital platforms, including: not distributing, disseminating, and commercializing news content that does not comply with the Press Law; prioritizing the distribution of news from verified press companies; providing fair treatment in digital services; and holding training for journalists to support quality journalism.

What is the form of cooperation between digital platforms and press companies regulated by Presidential Decree No. 32?

First, paid licenses; second, revenue sharing; third, sharing user aggregate data; and fourth, other forms of cooperation beyond what already exists.

"If the committee in this Presidential Decree, what are its duties and obligations?

Its members are 11 people from the Press Council, experts, and the government. The task of this committee is to ensure the fulfillment of the responsibilities of digital platforms as regulated in Article 5 of Presidential Decree No. 32. In carrying out this task, the committee has three functions: supervision, facilitation, and recommendation.

How is the implementation of the articles in Presidential Regulation No. 32?

Once a year, the committee makes a public report on its duties and functions. In the first year, we focused on institutional strengthening and met with various parties, such as digital platforms, press agencies, and relevant ministries. That's what we did in the first year.

The paid licensing program with the digital platform will be realized because this can have a direct impact in the form of revenue for the press company. This program is followed by around 30 to 35 press companies. Then, there are also training activities in the framework of World Press Day, namely Investigative Reporting Training, Host Event Training, and Media Management Training.

We also held the Media Sustainability Forum (MSF) on December 4-5, 2025 at Antara Heritage Center, Jakarta. Hopefully this can become an annual event. One of the agendas is to share (sharing) among the digital platform community to use the features to improve the performance of the press company, which in turn increases revenue and product quality. There is also a sharing session with media managers who have successfully earned income from digital platforms.

How many media have already partnered with digital platforms and how much income do they get?

It's interesting. Many friends who used to work in print media have now switched to digital media. However, the style is still like working in print media, even though the field is different. Before the press company applied for cooperation with the digital platform, we did an assessment first. We look at the business side and the use of technology. Regarding the value (nominal), this is indeed a problem because each media is different, and the press company usually does not want to open it to us.

For the press friends themselves, have you understood the contents of this Presidential Decree No. 32?

I often discuss this with friends in various regions; their understanding is still in process. In this digital era it is very different from the print era. Friends must understand the pattern of news distribution in the digital era today.

Not long ago, the Indonesian government had signed an ART with the US government. This, of course, is different from Presidential Decree No. 32. What is your response?

In this ART, it is about the digital platform that is included in one of the clauses of the agreement, namely in Article 3.3. It is stated that Indonesia refrains from requiring paid licenses, and the second is about sharing user data. In fact, this is clearly regulated in Article 7 of Presidential Decree No. 32.

So, ART is contrary to Presidential Regulation No. 32 of 2024. In fact, the Presidential Regulation is a regulation made by the state, so why doesn't the state see it? We have protested about this difference. We in the Committee are trying to hold hearings with various parties to find out why this can happen. The Presidential Regulation, right, is the state's rules and there are fundamental issues behind it. This is not just a press issue, but a public issue. The Presidential Regulation was made to support quality journalism for the public so that the public gets quality content.

If this ART is carried out, will Presidential Decree No. 32 automatically "dissolve"?

Yes, there is no longer a paid license as stipulated in Presidential Decree No. 32. The problem is, digital platforms don't have obligations, even though in Presidential Decree No. 32 it is clearly stated as an obligation. Moreover, with the development of AI today; media content is taken, collaboration is canceled, and traffic is lost.

If this ART is carried out, will foreign digital platforms not be touched by existing laws in Indonesia?

Those who have been required to cooperate in the form of paid licenses, revenue sharing, and sharing of aggregate data are not all implemented, especially if the form of cooperation is not clear.

So, in the future, what action will be taken?

"Indeed, this ART has been signed, but there is still time for the DPR of each country to ratify, namely 90 days after it is signed. We will convey the aspirations of the press community about this. We will list the friends of the press community and so on regarding the possibility of losses due to this ART if it is implemented. Furthermore, we will convey this to the party that has the authority to implement this agreement (ART).

Did the government ask the parties, including the press, before signing this very crucial agreement?

"To the committee there is none, but if it is to the press company I don't know. However, after we met with the press community, they were also surprised and only knew after the ART was signed.

There are a number of parties who call this a "death bell" that is sounded for the press, what is your response?

Yes, there are those who have that view, it's okay. We are free to express our views. We will try to have this agreement reviewed.

"Currently, the presence of the state is very needed to protect its people, including the press?

"In liberal countries (West) alone there are regulations that regulate the relationship between digital platforms and press companies. In Australia there is a News Bargaining Code, similar rules also exist in Canada and many European countries. The state there is present to protect its press through regulations, but in the Pancasila state there is none? This is a criticism for all of us.

Then, what are the other crucial agendas that will be carried out in the future?

"We will submit a revision to the Copyright Law regarding the use of news or content in the press media, so that anyone who uses the content must share the revenue with the original source owner. If so far, it is not; they just mention the original source. So the target, hopefully this can be recognized as a copyright. If you want to use it, you must have permission and there are rights that must be fulfilled. This is our common struggle that needs to be supported by all people in the press.

What are your hopes for the future of the government and the community so that our press can be better?

To the press, continue to produce quality content or news so that readers are loyal. Thank God if the media can produce premium content that is paid. Our hope for the public is that they support this. To digital platforms, so that they are willing to share in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 32 of 2024. For the government, so that it can review conflicting rules, because this ART is detrimental to the press and is contrary to Presidential Decree No. 32 which was made by the government itself.

Apart from his busy work as a journalist, Suprapto Sastro Atmojo has a hobby of cycling. He even once cycled from the western end to the eastern part of Indonesia. Seeing Indonesia while cycling is a pleasure for him.

"Before I got into cycling, I used to play football. Then I tried MTB (mountain bike) and blusukan with a bicycle from village to village. Then I got into touring bicycles and roadbikes," said the man who had a career as a journalist at the Kompas Gramedia Group.

The Puncak area, Mount Bunder, and Mount Pancar in the Sentul area, Bogor Regency, which are often used as a venue for MTB cycling, are his target. "If it's close to Jabodetabek, there's a Gas Pipeline (JPG) in BSD. The track is quite fun and challenging," he said.

To the east, there are Jatiasih, Cimanggis, and Cibinong areas which are used as places to blusukan. "Anyway, it's exciting and it stimulates adrenaline when you try the MTB track," he said.

What is no less exciting is when you go on a bike tour. "When you're touring, the time is not just a day or two, it can last for weeks. My butt is so sore, hehehe," he said with a laugh.

The first time Suprapto Sastro Atmojo took part in a long-distance tour was from Denpasar, Bali, to Komodo Island, NTT. "To complete the series of tours can take a week. That's a program held by Kompas, the theme 'Weaving Nusantara with a Bicycle'," said Suprapto, who had a taste of wild horse milk in NTB and NTT because he was curious.

The further journey is touring from Kilometer Zero of Sabang Island in Aceh to Padang, West Sumatra, which is also held by Kompas Media. "If this program lasts up to two weeks because the distance is far," he said.

The most exciting part of the trip from Sabang to Padang is crossing the beautiful shores of Lake Toba. "It's tiring, but the fun is not just playing. We rest near Lake Toba. It's really an unforgettable experience. Seeing it directly with your own eyes from the top of the bike is much more satisfying," he continued.

Between MTB, touring, and roadbikes, said Suprapto, each has its own uniqueness and excitement. He admitted that MTB is the most adrenaline-inducing. "Each MTB track has its own specifications and it's exciting. To be honest, it sometimes has a gang, hehehe," he said.

"In my heart, I was really excited when I tried one of the challenging tracks. I often fell and nyungsep too, but I'm happy," he continued.

Sometimes, the provocation of fellow travelers beats the fear that looms. "You know yourself that when friends are provoking, we get hot too, right. Finally try and try. Well, it will feel so happy if you can get through the obstacles even if it has to be accompanied by falling, hehehe," he recalls.

In addition to challenging and stimulating adrenaline, cycling to the village with a beautiful natural panorama gives a very fresh atmosphere after being stuck in Jakarta with the "concrete forest" that is fierce. "Frankly, the heart is happy and can be refreshing, smelling the fresh soil and seeing beautiful, green, and beautiful scenery. Going home in the morning is tired, but it pays off because the heart is happy," said Suprapto Sastro Atmojo.

"So ART is contrary to Presidential Regulation No. 32 of 2024. Even though the presidential regulation is a regulation made by the state, why the state does not see it. We have protested about these different things. We in the Committee are trying to hold hearings with various parties as to why this can happen,"

Suprapto Sastro Atmojo