Indonesia moves to bring streaming platforms in line with cinema standards

The Indonesian government is advancing plans to tighten oversight of online streaming platforms, including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and HBO Max, in a move aimed at aligning digital content with cinema standards.

Under the proposed regulations, content on these platforms would be subject to mandatory filtering similar to that applied to films screened in cinemas and programmes broadcast on television. The initiative is part of the broader Omnibus Law on Culture, which seeks to modernise the nation’s film and cultural legislation, including provisions on cultural heritage, and address gaps in digital oversight.

Naswardi, chairman of the Film Censorship Board (Lembaga Sensor Film, LSF), highlighted the imbalance between traditional and digital media oversight. “Currently, OTT platforms have no mechanism for curating or filtering film content, and downstream oversight is also lacking,” he told Antara. “As a result, there is no balance between the filtering applied in cinemas, on television, and on OTT platforms. OTT is relatively relaxed, while cinema and TV are strictly regulated.”

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Support for stricter streaming regulations appears strong. A 2024 LSF survey found that many Indonesians favour filtering content to ensure it is age-appropriate, while adoption of streaming platforms continues to rise. According to a Populix survey, 33% of respondents in Indonesia watch video-streaming services daily, with YouTube the most widely accessed platform, followed closely by Netflix.

The push for oversight comes amid rapid technological innovation in content production. Netflix has been reportedly exploring generative AI tools developed by New York-based startup Runway AI, using AI in projects such as simulating a building collapse in the Argentine series El Eternauta.

While Netflix has not confirmed the use of Runway’s tools, co-CEO Ted Sarandos has acknowledged integrating AI into creative processes. Runway, valued at over US$3 billion, exemplifies how technology is evolving faster than regulation, underscoring the challenges authorities face in implementing effective oversight.

If passed, the Omnibus Law on Culture could reshape Indonesia’s digital entertainment market. Streaming platforms may be required to submit content for review, potentially slowing releases or prompting region-specific edits. Global services such as Netflix and YouTube could face higher compliance costs and adjustments to their content strategies, while local audiences might see changes in both availability and timing of titles.

The LSF emphasises that current Indonesian film law, specifically Law No. 33 of 2009, mandates content filtering for cinema and television, but not for OTT platforms.

The proposed changes aim to extend existing content safeguards to streaming services, responding to both public demand and the growth of OTT viewing in Indonesia. “There has indeed been input from the public, particularly through research conducted by the LSF. Through surveys, people expressed that OTT video-on-demand platforms should be curated or filtered, with one of the proposed methods being through censorship,” Naswardi added.

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