Jakarta. The Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry is drafting a regulation that would require AI platforms to clearly label or watermark generative artificial intelligence content before it is uploaded or shared on digital platforms, with noncompliant material subject to removal.

“This will complement the presidential regulations,” Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, director general for digital ecosystem development at the ministry, told lawmakers during a hearing with House Commission I on Monday. “Generative AI content that appears on platforms must be given a watermark or label.”

The rule is intended to support two forthcoming presidential regulations that will form the backbone of Indonesia’s AI governance framework: a National AI Roadmap and a regulation on AI ethics. Together, the measures aim to guide adoption while addressing risks ranging from data leaks to social harm.

Under the planned ministerial rule, platforms hosting AI-generated content would be responsible for ensuring labels are applied. While the regulation would focus on identification and transparency, sanctions for AI-generated content that violates existing laws are already covered under Indonesia’s Information and Electronic Transactions Law, or ITE Law, Edwin said.

The National AI Roadmap will outline priority sectors for AI adoption, identifying 10 areas where the government wants to accelerate use of the technology. These include food security, housing, transportation, logistics, the creative economy, finance and other strategic sectors.

The roadmap will also include eight “quick win” programs aligned with President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship initiatives, such as the free nutritious meals program, health screenings, regional mapping, and strengthening cooperatives. A dedicated task force will be established to coordinate implementation across ministries and agencies.

The second presidential regulation will set ethical standards for AI use, covering three main groups: users, industry players and the government as regulator. Each ministry and state institution will be required to issue sector-specific rules governing how AI can be deployed within its domain.

Edwin said Indonesia’s approach reflects the country’s assessment of AI risks, which may differ from those in other jurisdictions. Key concerns include the potential widening of social inequality, vulnerabilities in data protection, and ethical behavior by developers and operators.

“AI must be deployed with proper cybersecurity and safeguards,” he said. “Developers need to ensure protections are in place so data leaks do not occur.”

Industry players and AI developers would be required to comply with user protection and security standards, while platforms must ensure transparency around AI-generated material. Users, meanwhile, are being urged to exercise caution when relying on AI-driven tools and content.