Indonesian News Publishers Push for Economic Rights Amid AI-Driven Copyright Debate

In a recent statement, the Association of Indonesian Cyber Media, represented by Wahyu Dhyatmika, warned that one outlet draft of Indonesia’s Copyright Law threatens the financial stability of news outlets by proposing an unworkable “link tax.” The association stresses that publishers do not want a mandatory levy on every link or snippet, but rather a system where platforms obtain permission and may negotiate compensation where appropriate.

They propose establishing a collective management organisation, governed by media owners, to give smaller publishers bargaining power while allowing larger firms to retain direct agreements. The appeal highlights the shift caused by AI services that can answer user queries without directing traffic to original sites, reducing traditional revenue streams. While acknowledging legitimate platform concerns about transaction costs and collective bodies, the group urges lawmakers in the DPR to refine the wording rather than abandon the reforms. The statement also notes Google’s News Showcase as a positive, yet limited, contribution to Indonesian journalism.