Data should be treated as a national asset
Indonesia will need to decide whether its digital data should be treated merely as an input for external technology companies or as a strategic national asset whose value should also contribute to domestic development.
Indonesia must decide if its digital data should be viewed solely as fodder for foreign technology firms or as a strategic asset beneficial to the nation's progress. The question echoes debates of the past, where Indonesian governments grappled with the fairness of sharing biological resources like bird flu samples. Now, the focus is on digital data and its potential to fuel AI-driven economic gains.
The sentiment remains the same: countries providing essential resources should not be mere suppliers while reaping minimal benefits. During the H5N1 virus research sharing controversy in 2007, Indonesia advocated for a fair share of the profits derived from the resources it contributed. While the comparison may seem far-fetched, the underlying principle remains: digital data, much like biological samples, deserves strategic consideration and equitable benefit-sharing.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post Academia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
