Indonesia Plans Landmark AI Copyright Law
Indonesia is preparing a major overhaul of its copyright law that could make it the first country in Southeast Asia to explicitly regulate artificial intelligence (AI) within its copyright legislation.
According to a draft reviewed by Reuters, the proposed law would:
- Ban AI systems from imitating a creator's distinctive artistic style.
- Require AI-generated content to be clearly disclosed.
- Require AI companies to obtain licenses or rely on fair-use exceptions when using copyrighted works for AI training.
- Allow authorities to revoke business permits of companies that fail to comply.
The legislation would replace Indonesia's current Copyright Law No. 28 of 2014.
Human Authorship Required
The draft states that AI-assisted works may receive copyright protection only when there is meaningful human intellectual contribution.
Content generated entirely by AI without sufficient human involvement would not qualify for copyright protection.
Important: The bill does not clearly define how much human contribution is required, leaving an important legal question unresolved.
Mandatory AI Disclosure
Anyone using AI to create content would be legally required to disclose that artificial intelligence was involved in the creation process.
The draft also prohibits AI systems from copying or closely imitating a creator's distinctive artistic style.
Restrictions on AI Training
Companies developing AI models would need to either:
- Operate within fair-use exceptions, or
- Obtain licensing agreements from copyright owners before training AI using protected works.
News publishers would also receive compensation whenever platforms:
- Aggregate news articles
- Republish content
- Create link previews
- Use news material to train AI systems
Payments would be distributed through Indonesia's state-supervised collective management organizations.
Google Opposes the Proposal
Google has become one of the strongest critics of the proposed legislation, arguing that excessive regulation could discourage innovation and investment in Indonesia's digital economy.
"Rigid, overbroad mandates would harm local creators, slow innovation, and leave Indonesia as an international outlier, ultimately discouraging the investment needed to drive its digital future."
Google says it will continue engaging with the Indonesian government during the consultation process.
Government Says AI Could Threaten Human Creativity
The proposal is being led by Hermansyah Siregar, head of Indonesia's Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI).
"The development of generative AI has disrupted the copyright framework. If unregulated, it could kill human creation."
— Hermansyah Siregar
According to the government, the proposed reforms aim to:
- Protect creators' livelihoods.
- Improve royalty governance.
- Strengthen copyright enforcement.
- Regulate AI responsibly.
Impact on the Music Industry
The legislation directly affects one of the music industry's biggest concerns: AI voice cloning and style imitation.
Recent developments include:
- Suno launching voice capture and personalized AI music models.
- Suno and Udio facing lawsuits from the RIAA over alleged copyright infringement.
- Udio signing licensing agreements with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group.
If passed, the Indonesian proposal could become one of the strongest legal protections against unauthorized AI imitation of artists.
Indonesia's Anti-Piracy Efforts
Alongside the copyright overhaul, Indonesia has intensified its fight against online piracy.
- 1,004 pirate websites were blocked between January 2025 and May 2026.
- Most violations involved movies, television, digital books and broadcasting rights.
Officials say the reforms will strengthen royalty collection through Indonesia's national collective management organization (LMKN).
How Indonesia Compares Globally
| Country / Region | AI Copyright Approach |
|---|---|
| Indonesia (Proposed) | Ban AI style imitation, mandatory disclosure, licensing for AI training. |
| Singapore | Allows AI training on copyrighted works, including commercial use. |
| Japan | Generally permits AI training on copyrighted material. |
| European Union | Requires AI-generated or AI-altered content to be labeled. |
| United States | Human authorship is required for copyright protection. |
What Happens Next?
The proposal remains under public consultation, and the Indonesian government continues to gather feedback from technology companies, legal experts, creators and industry stakeholders.
There is currently no confirmed timeline for parliamentary approval.
If enacted, Indonesia would become one of the world's most comprehensive jurisdictions regulating AI-generated creative content and protecting artists from AI imitation.
Key Takeaways
- Indonesia plans Southeast Asia's first AI-specific copyright law.
- AI would be prohibited from imitating a creator's distinctive style.
- AI-generated content would require mandatory disclosure.
- AI companies may need licenses to train on copyrighted works.
- The proposal directly impacts AI music generation and voice cloning.
- Google warns the legislation could discourage innovation and investment.
- The bill remains in draft form and has not yet become law.