DPR Asks For Internet And Social Media Algorithms To Be Regulated In The PDP Bill

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JAKARTA - Member of Commission I DPR Sukamta assessed that the use of internet algorithms needs to be regulated in the Personal Data Protection Bill (RUU PDP). This is to protect the privacy of citizens.

He assessed that the use of algorithms on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and Line can find out the patterns of a society. Even to the point that it can affect their behavior in life.

"This has the potential to become a problem when used to invade the privacy of citizens. Therefore, we really need to regulate this in the PDP Bill," Sukamta said in Jakarta as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, November 11.

Sukamta also gave an example in the viral documentary film entitled "The Social Dilema" containing the views of former employees and executives of technology giants and social media companies such as Facebook, Google, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

This film illustrates how "scary" internet technology and social media are. Because all activity data carried out on the internet is monitored, recorded, and measured by an algorithmic system that has been designed in such a way as to spy on human life.

Sukamta gave an example when activating location, Google records travel behavior, that is what is called a digital footprint. According to him, social media algorithms record and analyze so that they become preferences, habits and even choices from simple matters such as food tastes, economic spending, to more complex matters such as political views and choices.

"This can be called 'profiling', our behavior can be read through this, and of course the social media 'platform' will manipulate our behavior by offering certain content based on the results of the profiling," he said.

Sukamta said that people must have received advertising cookies or content that is similar or similar to content that has been previously searched for on the internet. That, according to him, is the simplest example, it could potentially fall into the realm of interventions that interfere with privacy if it is not properly regulated.

"A bigger example is that profiling was expanded to direct political behavior, such as the case of Cambridge Analytica's Facebook user data theft. If profiling is processed again, it can produce aggregate data," he said.

He explained that it was not just a matter of ordinary statistical interests, but could lead to things that were very strategic in the interests of the state. "Wouldn't this endanger personal security and could even threaten national security?" he said.

The PKS politician assessed that for the safety and convenience of the public and the state, personal data taken from the process of using this smart device includes personal data that must be protected.

Therefore, according to him, it is relevant that it is regulated more clearly and firmly in the PDP Bill to prevent abuse because violations in it must be criminalized to cause a deterrent effect.