The rise of Artificial Intelligence has introduced transformative possibilities across industries—but with it, critical questions about how personal data is handled, protected, and regulated. Against this backdrop, the Asosiasi Profesional Privasi Data Indonesia (APPDI) hosted its third Breakfast Meeting on Thursday, 15 May 2025, at Raffles Hotel Jakarta, focusing on the timely theme: “AI & Data Protection – Innovation vs. Privacy!”
Indonesia’s data protection landscape is undergoing a pivotal transformation. With the Personal Data Protection Law (UU PDP) officially in force since October 2024, organizations in both public and private sectors are now facing stricter compliance requirements. As AI systems become more embedded in government services, banking, e-commerce, education, and health tech, the challenge lies in ensuring these systems do not undermine the privacy rights guaranteed under the law.
At the meeting, Prof. Dr. IBR Supancana stressed the need for strong governance models and risk-based frameworks tailored to AI development in Indonesia. He noted that while innovation is essential to competitiveness, data protection must not be sidelined. Indonesian regulators and businesses alike are now being called upon to adopt AI strategies that incorporate privacy-by-design principles, with transparency, accountability, and ethics at their core.
Joining virtually from Malaysia, Prof. Abu Bakar Munir provided a global overview of how different jurisdictions are addressing the intersection of AI and data protection. The European Union’s AI Act and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) remain the most comprehensive attempts to regulate AI deployment while safeguarding individual rights. These frameworks emphasize concepts such as automated decision-making transparency, data minimization, and algorithmic fairness—principles that are increasingly influencing legislation in other parts of the world. Prof. Munir emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation and regional alignment in Southeast Asia, urging stakeholders in Indonesia to stay abreast of international standards to remain globally competitive and avoid digital trade barriers.
Participants at the APPDI Breakfast Meeting came from a wide spectrum of industries, demonstrating the cross-sector urgency of addressing AI and data protection issues. Attendees represented various sectors including technology, legal, finance, health, and education. Among them were professionals from Simian Technologies, SSEK Law Firm, Tirta Investama, Simplifa Cerdas Menyala, Mandiri Utama Finance, MFS Law Firm, Kalbe Consumer Health, LSP LSPP, HSP Legal and Business Consultant, Volvo Indonesia, Perkumpulan Sekolah SPK Indonesia, Mediawave Intractive, H2L Advocate & Receivers, Surveyor Indonesia, Otsuka Indonesia, Berlian Sistem Informasi, AXA Financial Indonesia, Sandhiguna Widya Proteksi, AHRP Lawfirm, as well as freelance professionals—all of whom actively engaged in the conversation.
These attendees voiced real concerns about AI-driven profiling, lack of algorithmic transparency, and the complexities of implementing ethical AI within existing corporate systems. More importantly, they also shared internal practices and strategies—from strengthening compliance protocols and conducting regular risk assessments to enhancing employee awareness and updating consent management mechanisms.
The collective dialogue underscored the growing importance of:
- Establishing clear ethical AI frameworks aligned with Indonesia’s PDP Law,
- Creating regulatory sandboxes for responsible innovation,
- Promoting digital literacy and public understanding of how AI processes personal data,
- Fostering collaboration across regulators, companies, and academic institutions to future-proof data governance systems.
Looking Ahead
As artificial intelligence continues to advance, the call for responsible innovation grows louder. The third APPDI Breakfast Meeting served not only as a platform to explore critical intersections between AI and data protection but also as a collaborative space where professionals could exchange practical insights, regulatory expectations, and real-world experiences.
APPDI remains committed to building a knowledgeable, proactive data privacy community in Indonesia—one that embraces innovation while upholding privacy as a fundamental right. We extend our sincere appreciation to all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions.
We look forward to welcoming you at the next APPDI event as we continue to explore key developments and challenges shaping the future of data protection and digital trust. For inquiries, collaboration opportunities, or to connect with us, feel free to reach out at info@appdi.org.
