Indonesia warns tech firms not registering under new rules

Indonesia has warned tech companies that their platform could be blocked if they fail to register under new licensing rules. The warning came as major global tech firms, such as Google and Meta (Facebook), still have not complied with the new licensing rules even as the July 20 deadline is approaching. The requirement to register is part of a set of rules, first released in November 2020, that will allow authorities to order platforms to take down content deemed unlawful, or that “disturbs public order” within four hours if considered urgent, and 24 hours if not. As of July 18, more than 5,900 domestic companies and 108 foreign companies had registered, including short-video app TikTok and music streaming firm Spotify, according to communications ministry data.