Coordinating Minister Yusril: Citizens' Rights In The Digital Space Must Be Protected By The Same Constitutional Standards

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Human Rights, Imipas Yusril Ihza Mahendra, gave a key speech (ANTARA/HO-Kemenko Kumham Imipas RI)

LABUAN BAJO Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections (Menko Kumham Imipas) Yusril Ihza Mahendra emphasized that technological changes must be responded to by updating the legal framework so that it remains relevant in the digital era.

Yusril emphasized that the current constitution is no longer read only in the analogous context.

"People's rights in the digital space must be protected with the same constitutional standards," said Yusril When delivering a key speech at the National Conference of the 4th Association of State Constitutional Law and State Administrative Laws (APHTN-HAN) in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Antara, Thursday, December 11.

He also highlighted the need to rearrange the general election system (election) so that it is simpler and with integrity, especially facing the era of digital-based campaigns and political data management. Election digitization, he said, should not be a loophole for manipulation so that the system must be made clear, safe, and auditable.

Regarding the state administration's economy, Yusril emphasized the importance of governance of the accountable Anagata Nusantara Power Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara). Public supervision and state institutions, according to him, need to be strengthened to prevent misuse of state assets.

The sovereign wealth fund must be managed clearly. We learn from many countries that large funds without supervision are just waiting for the time to have problems," he said.

On that occasion, Yusril summarized the three main agendas of the state administration that were urgently carried out: strengthening digital constitutionalism, election reform, and more transparent Danantara governance.

The 4th APHTN-HAN Conference is a place for discussion between academics and policymakers regarding the direction of Indonesian state administration in the midst of digital transformation and the dynamics of the global economy. Yusril hopes that conference recommendations do not stop at the discourse, but can be translated into concrete policies.

Previously, Yusril also mentioned opportunities and threats of artificial intelligence (AI) to the Indonesian legal system. In a public lecture at the Faculty of Law, Padjadjaran University, Bandung, Wednesday (27/8), he emphasized that although artificial intelligence is increasingly sophisticated, AI is still born from a series of human-made codes.

"Therefore, legal accountability remains with humans, not machines," said Yusril.

He highlighted the dilemma between adaptive and progressive legal needs and legal certainty. According to the former minister of state secretary, the new regulations, increasing the capacity of law enforcement officers, and ethically the use of artificial intelligence are urgent needs. He emphasized that AI should not replace the function of legal assessments that become human domains.