Long Discussion Of The PDP Bill In The DPR

DPR Plenary Meeting (Diah Ayu / VOI)

JAKARTA - The House of Representatives (DPR) has opened the Second Session Period 2020-2021. One of its strategic agendas is to finalize the discussion of the Law on Protection of Personal Data and Information (PDP).

"Discussions are ongoing with the DPR," said the Director of Information Technology Application Management, Directorate General of Communication and Information Applications, Mariam F Barata, during a virtual event for the 2020 National Fintech Week, as quoted from Antara, Tuesday, November 17.

The Ministry of Communication and Information, said Mariam, still targets this law to be discussed at the end of this month, however, recent conditions have caused obstacles to discussing the PDP Bill.

"It depends on the readiness of the DPR, it also depends on the current situation, there are many health protocols that we have to go through, we must obey, for discussion," said Mariam.

Mariam stated that the PDP Bill will be completed this year, however, if not, it will be continued in 2021. Kominfo and Commission I DPR agreed to discuss the PDP Bill, after going through the process, at the September 1 meeting.

Previously, the Minister of Communication and Information, Johnny G. Plate, at a meeting with Commission I of the DPR last September saw that Indonesia needed the PDP Law. Because other countries already have data protection regulations, so the policies and rules that are applied can be equal.

"The PDP Bill is necessary to guarantee national interests, however, it is not limited to state sovereignty and protection of private data belonging to citizens," said Johnny.

It is believed that this law can guarantee a sense of security to the public when using internet-based applications and platforms.

The Personal Data Protection Act will regulate the rights and obligations of data owners and individuals or institutions that collect and process data. Through this regulation, a "data protection officer" will be appointed or supervisor for the protection of personal data.

Currently, the issue of data protection while waiting for the PDP Bill refers to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions or the ITE Law and Government Regulation Number 71 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Electronic Systems and Transactions.