Komdigi Reminds The Importance Of Upgrading Photography Ethics In Public Spaces

Head of the Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) Bonifasius Pudjianto (photo: Dinda Buana/VOI)

Head of the Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), Bonifasius Pudjianto, reminded the importance of maintaining ethics in street photography activities.

He emphasized that this ethics is very much needed, especially when a person's photo has the potential to be used for commercial purposes or distributed online, without the consent of the person concerned.

According to him, a person's face photo is included in the category of personal data, the same as text, voice, or even biometric data. Therefore, permission is needed before disseminating it online.

"This is a problem that arises, when there are people who take advantage of (the trend of buying and selling photos without permission). Return to ethics, sorry, yes, in several countries that have advanced, we take photos of people, there must be a permit," said Boni at the Ngopi Bareng Komdigi event on Friday, October 31.

Boni assessed that although street photography can be a form of art expression and public documentation, the use of photo results for commercial purposes must still respect individual rights.

"I strongly appeal to colleagues who take pictures of all kinds, to pay attention (ethnics), I return them to our ethics and culture. If we want to take pictures, try to allow it first," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Digital Space Supervision of the Ministry of Komdigi, Alexander Sabar, has also emphasized that shooting activities in public spaces must comply with the provisions in Law Number 27 of 2022 concerning Personal Data Protection (UU PDP).

Alex also mentioned that the public has the right to sue parties who violate or misuse personal data as regulated in the PDP Law and Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE).