Minister Of Communication And Information: The Metemic Application Has Been Declared Prohibited In Indonesia

Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi when launching two books about digital development in the country, at the Ministry of Communication and Information Office, Jakarta, Thursday. (ANTARA / Princess Hanifa)

JAKARTA - Minister of Communication and Information (Menkominfo) Budi Arie Setiadi firmly stated that the Metu application is prohibited, blocked and can no longer be used in Indonesia.

This step was taken to protect domestic Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from the threat of business models implemented by the application.

"If the Temu application, as of yesterday we declared it prohibited in Indonesia. For what reason? Because the Temu application, the business model is from a manufacturer directly to consumers. The manufacturers are from other countries, consumers are Indonesians. Later our MSMEs will be crushed," said Minister of Communication and Information Budi after releasing two books on digital development in the country, at the Ministry of Communication and Information Office, Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, October 10.

The Minister of Communication and Information also explained that although the appearance of the Temu application can still be accessed, transactions cannot be made, and applications for take down from the App Store and Play Store are in process.

Not only Temu, but the Minister of Communication and Information also highlighted other applications such as Shein, which carry out a similar business concept, namely direct sales from abroad to Indonesian consumers.

Shein sells fashion and cosmetic products in the same way as Temu. We have to take care of our MSMEs, both in Tasikmalaya, Pekalongan, and other areas," he said.

This step was taken as part of the government's efforts to protect the MSME ecosystem in Indonesia from unhealthy competition with foreign companies.

"PSE (Electronic System Operator) for Metu will not be given, nor if there are similar applications that try to enter," Budi emphasized.

The Minister of Communication and Information also rejected the issue of the acquisition of a local e-commerce platform by Temu, and emphasized that the government would still protect the interests of MSMEs in every digital policy taken.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkominfo) closed access to the Temu application as an enforcement of the Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Number 5 of 2020 (Permenkominfo 5/2020) concerning Private Scope Electronic System Operators.

Referring to these rules, the Temu application cannot operate in Indonesia and access is closed because it is not registered as an Electronic System Operator (PSE).