Surabaya, E. Java. Indonesia is preparing to strengthen copyright protection for journalistic works, potentially giving news organizations and journalists clearer rights over the use and monetization of their content as the media industry faces mounting pressure from digital disruption and artificial intelligence.

Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas said Monday that the government has completed its inventory of issues for the planned revision of the 2014 Copyright Law, with provisions covering journalistic works. The bill is awaiting a presidential letter before formal discussions with the House of Representatives can begin.

“The Copyright Law considers journalistic works part of the copyright regime to provide certainty over the rights, especially of journalists and press companies,” Supratman said during a public lecture at the University of Surabaya.

He said the proposed provisions would cover both journalists and media companies, potentially clarifying the economic rights attached to news content.

If adopted, the changes could give Indonesian media companies a clearer legal basis to seek payment when their original reporting is commercially reused by third parties.

The move comes as Indonesia’s media industry continues to face significant economic pressure. Digital disruption, declining advertising spending, changes to digital-platform algorithms and the growing use of AI have affected both the sustainability of media companies and employment in the sector, Press Council Chairman Komaruddin Hidayat said in the council’s 2025 year-end report.

More than 800 media workers were laid off between 2024 and July 2025, according to the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), although the actual figure could be higher because some cases had not been recorded. Indonesia had 1,136 administratively and factually verified press companies at the time.

The pressure has persisted despite rapid growth in digital advertising. Indonesia’s digital advertising market was estimated at around $3.23 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $4.51 billion by 2031, according to Mordor Intelligence.

However, the Press Council has said about 80% of Indonesia’s digital advertising spending flows to major foreign technology companies such as Google, Meta and TikTok, leaving local publishers competing for a much smaller share of the expanding market.

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