Jakarta. Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid has warned content creators against recording people without their consent, saying such practices could violate the country’s Personal Data Protection Law.

Meutya’s remarks came after a controversy involving content creator Emanuel Bryan "Ebe" Martono, who allegedly recorded a female usher at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2026 using smart glasses without her knowledge or consent. The incident sparked widespread discussion on social media.

“Recording someone without permission is a violation of the Personal Data Protection Law, and it is also an ethical violation,” Meutya said at her ministry in Jakarta on Monday.

She said a person’s face and likeness constitute biometric personal data and are therefore protected under the law. Recording someone without consent can create legal problems when it is done in violation of data protection rules, she said.

Meutya also rejected the argument that recording someone in a public place automatically removes their right to privacy.

“People must not record others without permission, even in public spaces,” she said, adding that the same principle should apply to people who are filmed while exercising or carrying out other activities in public.

The controversy involved a freelance usher working at a car booth at GIIAS. She said she was recorded without being told that her interaction with visitors was being filmed for social media content.

The conversation was later turned into a video titled “how to approach girls at an exhibition.” The usher said she had initially believed the visitors were simply seeking information about the cars on display and answered their questions politely, including questions about her name and age.

She later learned that the interaction had been recorded and published online. She also said she was unaware that one of the creators allegedly used a camera concealed in smart glasses.

After asking for the video to be removed, she said her request was initially rejected on the grounds that the recording had taken place in a public space. She also claimed that some of her colleagues were asked to pay money if they wanted videos featuring them removed. 

Emanuel later apologized after facing backlash over allegations that he had asked a sales promotion girl to pay money to have a video removed. 

Emanuel acknowledged that he should not have referred to production costs or asked for payment in connection with removing the video.

“I should not have said there was a production fee or made other statements in the comments,” Emanuel said in an apology posted on social media.

Meutya said the issue was not only about data protection but also about ethics and the safety of women and children in public spaces.

“Recording without permission must stop,” she said.

The Communications and Digital Affairs Ministry has also opened channels for public complaints about online content that is disturbing, violates regulations, or poses a risk to vulnerable groups. Complaints can be forwarded to the ministry’s Digital Space Oversight Directorate for further action.

The video involving the usher and her colleagues has since been removed from social media, according to the usher.

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