Hello!

How do you get everyone to behave like civilized human beings on social media? There’s no simple answer, but the Indonesian government is looking at more regulatory oversight as a possible solution (on top of existing online defamation laws, of course).

Do we not have enough faith in humanity to, as Reddit puts it, “Remember the Human” behind the handles? Eh, probably not.

More on that topic below, as well as other stories as hot as the midday Jakarta sun (Dua Lipa is coming!), below.

Cheers,

Andra

Law/Politics

Follow the Council

Can we raise standards on social media? If so, who should have the honor of carrying out such a thankless task? Indonesia’s Communication and Information Technology Ministry believes they have a solution: the formation of a social media council.

Think the Press Council, but for social media. The ministry is once again pushing the idea after it was initially suggested by civil society groups and backed by UNESCO studies, with the aim of improving social media governance in Indonesia.

First suggested in August 2023, the council would be an independent coalition, including academics, industry experts, and community representatives (influencers, perhaps?). They would work to minimize social media’s negative impacts while supporting digital and press freedoms. The government is open to further input on this initiative.

One wonders if there’s going to be a minimum follower requirement to apply. We won’t know for a while — no timeframe has been mentioned for the creation of the council.

In Other News

• Indonesia has warmly appreciated Ireland, Spain, and Norway's official recognition of the Palestinian state. Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the move is seen as a critical step towards a two-state solution, urging other European nations to follow suit.

• Actress Nirina Zubir finally received recovered property deeds belonging to her late mother, bringing an end to a case that has highlighted the rampant issue of property fraud in Indonesia. In 2017, Nirina’s former household assistant transferred the title of the deeds to herself with the aid of unscrupulous Jakarta officials. Nirina has gone through a long legal battle to recover six lost properties worth IDR 17 billion.

• Sell meth, win an election. A newly elected local councilor (DPRK) in Aceh Tamiang was arrested for his alleged involvement in the trafficking of 70 kg of the illicit substance. He also allegedly used the drug money to fund his campaign. Police are on the hunt for an accomplice who has reportedly fled to Malaysia.

Business/Economy

Where to for GoTo?

In a surprising shakeup in the Indonesian tech world, several prominent founders of Gojek and Tokopedia have decided to step down from their roles at GoTo, the merged entity of the two startups.

The departures include significant names like Kevin Aluwi and William Tanuwijaya, sparking discussions about the future direction of the Indonesian tech unicorn. It has been said that this is all part of a broader strategy to streamline leadership and potentially pivot the company’s strategic focus, though specifics remain under wraps.

The market will certainly watch closely as GoTo navigates these major changes.

In Other News

• Shopee is under fire for allegedly engaging in antitrust practices by limiting delivery service providers and directing customers to just two companies — one of which has a Shopee Indonesia executive on its board, according to the KPPU (Business Competition Supervisory Commission). The agency is also probing Lazada for competition rule breaches.

• Local internet service providers are banding together in the wake of Starlink’s entry to Indonesia, raising concerns about fair competition and regulatory transparency. The ISPs are calling for the government to freeze Starlink’s retail permit if the SpaceX subsidiary doesn’t comply with Indonesian regulations.

• Emaar Properties, the Dubai-based developer known for the iconic Burj Khalifa, is eyeing investment opportunities in the country's new capital, Nusantara (IKN). During a recent visit, Emaar's executives expressed interest in three key sectors: energy, real estate, and transportation.

• Twelve rural banks (those that gather funds and give credit but do not provide payment services) have bitten the dust in 2024. The culprit? Poor management and internal woes, according to the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

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Everything Else

• Sorry for the delays, says Garuda Indonesia’s chief as the flag carrier struggles to depart Hajj pilgrims on time. The airline blamed prolonged implementation of fleet safety procedures for the hiccups but assured the public that they're ramping up efforts to ensure smoother skies ahead.

• Indonesia’s women’s national football team produced a manita when they crushed Singapore with a not-so-friendly score of 5-1 in a friendly match. The Indonesian ladies have won adulation for their complete domination and simple yet highly effective football.

• Dua Lipa is coming to Jakarta on November 9 to promote her third studio album. Tickets go on sale on June 10, but you’d have to be a radical optimist (ha) to get your hands on one amid what will likely be another “ticket war”.