Formal registration is now required.
Indonesia has blocked online services for Steam, Epic Games, Battle.net, Origin, and more tech giants as per a regulation imposed by the Ministry of Communication and Information of Technology.
According to Nico Partners, regulation no. 5 of 2020 on Penyelenggara Sistem Elektronik Swasta (PSE) — or MR5 — requires local and foreign tech enterprises operating within the country to register with the government in order to continue regular operations.
Engadget says that MR5 enables the Indonesian government to force online service providers to remove content that it deems unlawful or a threat to public order.
Human Rights Watch has criticised the new regulation.
“[MR5] is a tool for censorship that imposes unrealistic burdens on the many digital services and platforms that are used in Indonesia,” said Asia Legal Advisor at Human Rights Watch, Linda Lakhdhir. “It poses serious risks to the privacy, freedom of speech, and access to information of Indonesian internet users.”
Indonesians have also taken to social media criticising MR5, using the hashtag #BlokirKominfo, which roughly translates to “block communications and information”.
The regulation impacts tech companies outside of gaming as well, including the likes of LinkedIn, PayPal, Amazon, Yahoo, Bing and Alibaba. The likes of Google and YouTube met the government’s deadline for registration and operate without hindrance.
The Indonesian government’s Ministry of Communication and Information of Technology said late yesterday that services like PayPal had been restored temporarily at the same time it defended the regulation.
“This registration is not a permit and can be done very simply,” said Minister Johnny Plate.
“Kominfo cleans up [illegal platforms], including online gambling, radicalism, terrorism, pornography, specifically child pornography, and other illegal trades in the digital space,” he continued.
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