The Indonesian government is encouraging strengthening ASEAN regional collaboration to counter the spread of disinformation and deepfake content in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), one of which is through harmonization of standards for detecting and labeling AI-based content across countries.
Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, Director General of Digital Ecosystems at the Ministry of Communication and Digital, assessed this effort as crucial for maintaining public trust and the integrity of the broadcasting ecosystem in the Southeast Asian region.
"We need an interoperable mechanism across ASEAN to detect and flag deepfakes . Because we know that a fragmented regulatory landscape only benefits criminals," Edwin said, as quoted in a ministry press release.
He argued that AI could be a powerful force that would bring many benefits.
"AI is incredibly powerful, and it can't be resisted. While it does pose dangers, it offers many tangible benefits. Strategic integration with clear governance is needed to ensure the technology truly serves society," he explained.
Also read: The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs handles the misuse of AI content in accordance with the ITE Law.
Edwin believes the broadcasting sector has a strategic role to play in ensuring that the benefits of AI are more equitably accessible to all levels of society.
"We see broadcasting as an important instrument for educating the public. If the use of AI is disseminated through an inclusive broadcasting system, the risk of inequality caused by AI can be reduced," he said.
Edwin also emphasized that the Indonesian government will not allow the digital space to become an unregulated area.
The government has required digital platforms to implement systems that can protect children and prevent the spread of hoax content.
"We also encourage global platforms to provide AI content detection and labeling tools to protect the public," Edwin said.
He appreciated ASEAN's steps in building joint AI governance, starting from the ASEAN Guidelines on AI Governance and Ethics, the establishment of the AI Governance Working Group, to the launch of the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap (2025–2030).
