The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) is expected to uphold its role as a public oversight body amid increasingly complex algorithmic disruptions. A significant regulatory imbalance currently exists between conventional media and digital platforms, underscoring the need for policy reform to strike a balance between freedom of expression and social responsibility in broadcasting.
This issue was discussed in the 25th edition of Diskusi Komunikasi Mahasiswa (Diskoma) themed “Conventional and Digital Broadcasting Regulation”, held at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Fisipol UGM) on Friday (Oct. 31).
The discussion, organized by the Master of Communication Science Program at UGM, featured three speakers: Evri Rizqi Monarshi, Commissioner of KPI for 2022–2025; Gilang Iskandar, Secretary-General of the Indonesian Private Television Association (ATVSI); and Dr. Rahayu, Head of the Master of Communication Science Program at UGM.
Evri Rizqi Monarshi emphasized that KPI continues to strive to maintain its role as a public watchdog amid digital disruptions that demand adaptive regulation.
“We will bridge the regulatory gap between tightly regulated conventional media and unregulated digital platforms,” Monarshi said.
Lecturer at the Department of Communication Science, Fisipol UGM, Dr. Wisnu Martha Adiputra, stated that media development is shifting increasingly toward the digital sphere, calling for a new perspective on the broadcasting landscape.
Acknowledging the need for reflection on these changes, he noted, “We need to build collective awareness of public issues, particularly in maintaining the balance between freedom of expression and social responsibility in broadcasting spaces.”
Hazwan Iskandar Jaya, Chair of the Yogyakarta Regional Broadcasting Commission (KPID DIY), expressed appreciation for Diskoma as a platform for dialogue between academics, regulators, and students.
He described the forum as a manifestation of kanthi pawiyatan, a spirit of friendship within a learning space aimed at strengthening synergy between academia and broadcasting institutions.
Gilang Iskandar highlighted that unequal regulatory burdens have weakened the competitiveness of national broadcasting institutions.
He pointed out that conventional television networks are required to comply with extensive administrative and financial regulations, while global digital platforms operate with virtually no restrictions.
“The current broadcasting regulations create severe inequity for conventional TV stations, which face heavy obligations, while global digital platforms remain unregulated. This threatens the sustainability of the industry and calls for a legal reconstruction to ensure equal obligations for all media players,” Iskandar stated.
He further added that addressing this imbalance requires political will to revise the broadcasting law paradigm, ensuring fairness and relevance in a convergent media ecosystem.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya