Fajarasia.co – The Indonesian House of Representatives has passed the long-awaited Personal Data Protection Law (UU PDP). The dexterity of the DPR, together with the Government, in realizing the PDP Law, is considered to provide a sense of security for Indonesian citizens in the midst of rampant cases of data leakage.
“I saw the DPR responding and providing solutions with the passing of the PDP Law. In the midst of the viral phenomenon of the Bjorka hacker, the PDP Law is present as part of the State’s obligation to provide a sense of security for people’s personal data,” said Political Communication Expert Silvanus Alvin, Tuesday (20/9/2022).
The PDP Law was passed in today’s plenary session at the DPR. Alvin also praised the performance of the DPR under the leadership of Puan Maharani in accelerating the presence of a legal umbrella to ensure the security of personal data of the Indonesian people.
“Just like the Sexual Violence Act (TPKS), DPR Speaker Puan Maharani’s quick reaction should be appreciated in bringing the PDP Law to be ratified,” he said.
According to Alvin, the discussion of the PDP Law is indeed quite long because there are various dynamics that occur. He considered that this was done so that the policy of protecting personal data really became an effective legal product.
“The focus is now on legal certainty for the protection of personal data. The legality has been ratified by the DPR, so now the implementation is in the hands of the executive,” said Alvin.
“From this, it can also be seen that the crisis management that Puan as the leader of the House of Representatives can deal with can also be seen. It can be seen how the members of the DPR from various factions did not rush to make a decision but ratified it after it was deemed that the bill was quite perfect,” added the lecturer at the Faculty of Communication, Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN).
The final draft of the PDP Law, which has been discussed since 2016, consists of 371 Problem Inventory Lists (DIM) and produces 16 chapters and 76 articles. Unlike the previous period, the Indonesian House of Representatives was able to complete the discussion of the PDP Bill which added 4 articles from the Government’s initial proposal at the end of 2019 during the leadership of Puan Maharani.
“With this law, the public also really understands that personal data is something important and must be protected. Keeping this private data should be two-sided. The government as a whole and there is awareness to protect each individual,” explained Alvin.
“Right now the data is the new oil. Therefore, the data should not be exploited by irresponsible parties. The DPR can then provide socialization to the wider community regarding the PDP Law,” he continued.
The PDP Law is known to provide the state with a legal basis to force electronic system operators (PSE) to be able to secure the data and systems they manage optimally. So far, people’s personal data is not guaranteed because of the potential for data leakage.
“The PDP Law is expected to be able to protect and continue to accommodate changes in digital technology according to the times,” said Alvin.
The PDP Law also stipulates criminal sanctions for persons or entities that violate the provisions regarding the use of personal data. Alvin considered that the regulation was a form of the DPR’s commitment to protect the public’s personal data from the threat of abuse of interest.
“I am sure that with Puan’s leadership, the DPR will continue to monitor the government’s performance in implementing the rules contained in the PDP Law,” he said.
Alvin reminded the importance of the PDP Law being complemented by strategic steps such as preparing a roadmap, structuring institutions, strengthening human resources (HR) and improving technology to build a strong cybersecurity system.
“That way, the PDP Law is really able to protect the personal data of citizens,” said Alvin.
Furthermore, this Masters graduate from the University of Leicester, England, asked the DPR to ensure that the Government can guarantee the storage of people’s personal data, which should be in the territory of Indonesia’s sovereignty. Alvin said this was to avoid abuse by other parties.
“Thanks to the commitment of the DPR RI to immediately conclude the discussion and ratification of the PDP Law, Indonesia can optimally carry out interactions between nations because the issue of personal data protection is on the agenda and prerequisites for world trade,” he explained.
“Moreover, the PDP Bill regulates the rights of data owners, data controllers, and companies that use data,” added the lecturer at the Distance Learning Study Program at UMN.
Alvin also highlighted the increasingly productive performance of the DPR, especially in the field of legislation. The ratification of the PDP Law is considered to be one of the historic moments of how the State guarantees the sovereignty rights of personal data for all its people.
“Because of the cooperation between the DPR and the Government, the legal umbrella for personal data protection which is very important to maintain consumer and international trust in supporting the growth of the digital economy is finally born and is ready to be applied in the life of the nation and state,” explained Alvin.
Previously, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani said the PDP Law would provide legal certainty with permanent force in protecting people’s personal data in the digital realm. He said the PDP Law was urgently needed considering that crimes involving people’s personal data were increasingly prevalent in Indonesia.
“With the ratification of the PDP Bill, we hope that more and more cases of personal data leakage can be stopped,” said Puan.
Puan said the rules in the PDP Law would make the State have regulations in setting rules for the protection and security of people’s personal data. Not only that, the PDP Law is also related to digital security in the midst of rapid technological advances.
“The ratification of the PDP Bill will be a milestone for Indonesia in protecting the personal data of its citizens from all forms of crime in today’s digital era,” said the first woman who served as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives.
“This PDP Bill will provide legal certainty so that every citizen, without exception, is sovereign over his personal data. Thus, there will be no more people crying because of online loans they didn’t ask for, or doxing that makes residents uneasy,” added Puan.
Puan hopes that the Government will quickly enact the PDP Bill after it is ratified. Thus the derivative rules, including the establishment of a supervisory agency that will protect the public’s personal data, are quickly realized.
“Through the PDP Law, the state will guarantee the people’s right to the security of their personal data,” he concluded.***
