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Starlink has stopped accepting new customers in Indonesia due to nationwide network saturation.

The decision underscores the country’s massive demand for reliable internet, especially in remote regions.

Regulatory tensions persist as local ISPs push back against foreign dominance in the telecom space.

Starlink’s pause reflects broader capacity issues in global satellite internet rollouts.

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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Wayan Toni Supriyanto, the director general of Digital Infrastructure at the Ministry of Communication and Digital, responded to the temporary suspension of new customer registrations by Starlink in Indonesia. According to him, the domestic telecommunications industry could meet the country's demands without relying solely on Starlink.

"Digital connectivity in Indonesia does not solely depend on one or two parties. Indonesia currently has several operational national satellites and has also permitted a number of foreign satellites to provide their services in Indonesia," Wayan Toni told Tempo on Sunday, July 20, 2025.

In a written announcement on Sunday, July 13, 2025, the management of Starlink stated, "Starlink service is currently unavailable for new customers in your area due to sold-out capacity across Indonesia."

The company has also temporarily halted the activation process for new devices purchased through retail or third parties. However, interested individuals can still place a deposit to secure a spot on a waiting list and will be notified once the service becomes available again.

According to Wayan Toni, the domestic telecommunications industry also has terrestrial-based solutions such as fiber optics or cellular networks. Additionally, there are satellite-based solutions for isolated areas, such as Telkomsat, PSN, and Oneweb.

"For the 3T solutions (disadvantaged, outermost, and frontier regions), satellites are indeed the ideal option," he stated.

Wayan Toni stated that the existing digital infrastructure can be utilized to support adequate telecommunications network connectivity in various regions of the country. He also mentioned that internet users in Indonesia still have many suitable options based on the specific conditions of their respective regions.

"Both national and foreign satellites providing services in Indonesia can become a source of network connectivity supply to meet the demand in the Indonesian market," Wayan Toni stated.
Editor's Choice: Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News Why is Starlink Halting New User Registrations in Indonesia?

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Starlink Halts Indonesian Registrations, Govt: Connectivity Not Hinged on One Party

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Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital's Director General of Digital Infrastructure, Wayan Toni Supriyanto, expressed views on internet connectivity in Indonesia, emphasizing the country's reliance on more than just Starlink.

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The Florida's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act, that was enacted in 2017 was created to regulate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) within the state. It focuses on prohibiting drone operations over critical infrastructure facilities. Although it does present exceptions for governmental entities such as law enforcement and authorized personnel.

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Chapter 330 Section 41 - 2022 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate

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330.41 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act.—(1) SHORT TITLE.—This act may be cited as the “Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act.”(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this act, the term:(a) “Critical infrastructure facility” means any of the following, if completely enclosed by a fence or other physical barrier that is obviously designed to exclude intruders, or if clearly marked with a sign or signs which indicate that entry is forbidden and which are posted on the property in a manner reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders:1. An electrical power generation or transmission facility, substation, switching station, or electrical control center.2. A chemical or rubber manufacturing or storage facility.3. A mining facility.4. A natural gas or compressed gas compressor station, storage facility, or natural gas or compressed gas pipeline.5. A liquid natural gas or propane gas terminal or storage facility with a capacity of 4,000 gallons or more.6. Any portion of an aboveground oil or gas pipeline.7. A wireless communications facility, including the tower, antennae, support structures, and all associated ground-based equipment.8. A state correctional institution as defined in s. 944.02 or a private correctional facility authorized under chapter 957.9. A secure detention center or facility, as defined in s. 985.03, or a nonsecure residential facility, a high-risk residential facility, or a maximum-risk residential facility, as those terms are described in s. 985.03(44).10. A county detention facility, as defined in s. 951.23.(b) “Drone” has the same meaning as s. 934.50(2).(c) “Unmanned aircraft system” means a drone and its associated elements, including communication links and the components used to control the drone which are required for the pilot in command to operate the drone safely and efficiently.(3) REGULATION.—(a) The authority to regulate the operation of unmanned aircraft systems is vested in the state except as provided in federal regulations, authorizations, or exemptions.(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided, a political subdivision may not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution relating to the design, manufacture, testing, maintenance, licensing, registration, certification, or operation of an unmanned aircraft system, including airspace, altitude, flight paths, equipment or technology requirements; the purpose of operations; and pilot, operator, or observer qualifications, training, and certification.(c) This subsection does not limit the authority of a local government to enact or enforce local ordinances relating to nuisances, voyeurism, harassment, reckless endangerment, property damage, or other illegal acts arising from the use of unmanned aircraft systems if such laws or ordinances are not specifically related to the use of an unmanned aircraft system for those illegal acts.(d) A person or governmental entity seeking to restrict or limit the operation of drones in close proximity to infrastructure or facilities that the person or governmental entity owns or operates must apply to the Federal Aviation Administration for such designation pursuant to s. 2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016.(4) PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES.—(a) A person may not knowingly or willfully:1. Operate a drone over a critical infrastructure facility;2. Allow a drone to make contact with a critical infrastructure facility, including any person or object on the premises of or within the facility; or3. Allow a drone to come within a distance of a critical infrastructure facility that is close enough to interfere with the operations of or cause a disturbance to the facility.(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A person who commits a second or subsequent violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.(c) This subsection does not apply to actions identified in paragraph (a) which are committed by:1. A federal, state, or other governmental entity, or a person under contract or otherwise acting under the direction of a federal, state, or other governmental entity.2. A law enforcement agency that is in compliance with s. 934.50, or a person under contract with or otherwise acting under the direction of such law enforcement agency.3. An owner, operator, or occupant of the critical infrastructure facility, or a person who has prior written consent of such owner, operator, or occupant.(d) Subparagraph (a)1. does not apply to a drone operating in transit for commercial purposes in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, authorizations, or exemptions.(e) This subsection shall sunset 60 days after the date that a process pursuant to s. 2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016 becomes effective.(5) CONSTRUCTION.—This section shall be construed in accordance with standards imposed by federal statutes, regulations, and Federal Aviation Administration guidance on unmanned aircraft systems.

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Alexandra Pusey

The Australian Government has passed laws in parliament that will ban anyone under the age of 16 from using Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

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Kids to be banned from social media from next year after parliament votes through world-first laws

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The government and opposition moved fast to ram through the bill before the end of the parliamentary year, sparking calls for more scrutiny from some Coalition MPs, independents and the Greens.

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Singapore Novel Food Regulatory Framework

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Singapore Novel Food Regulatory Framework

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Novel Food Regulatory Framework established by the Singapore Food Agency as part of the govt-wide efforts to increase food security in Singapore (goal of 30% self-produced food by 2023). Supported by the recent Food Safety and Security Bill passed in Nov 2024, the NFRF regulates the introduction of novel food by requiring manufacturers/producers and importers to obtain pre-market approval before introducing novel food to the market. -Cal

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THE need for sustainable food production has "never been more urgent", and new solutions are needed to drive this, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Friday.

Speaking at the Global Food Security and Sustainability virtual summit, Ms Fu noted that the topic of food security came into greater focus last year with the emergence of Covid-19, which disrupted food supply chains, impacting the supply resilience of many countries and causing massive crop wastage in others.

"Global food supply will continue to face fluctuations and risks, from challenges ranging from disease outbreaks, rising urbanisation, and climate change," she said, highlighting the urgent need for new solutions for more sustainable food.

Singapore currently produces under 10 per cent of its local nutritional needs, and the government has a 30-by-30 target: to have the capacity to produce 30 per cent of Singapore's nutritional needs locally and sustainably by 2030.

Ms Fu noted that innovation and technology will be "critical enablers", and the government has several initiatives to support this.

This includes a S$60 million Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund over the next five years to support local farms to adopt technology and improve their farming systems.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has also awarded over S$23 million in funding to 12 projects under the Singapore Food Story R&D Programme grant call to address challenges facing tropical aquaculture and urban agriculture.

John Eng, head for agrifood division at the Singapore Economic Development Board, who also spoke at the event, noted that technologies would have a big part in achieving the 30-by-30 target.

Three key areas of focus are urban agriculture, aquaculture, as well as alternative proteins.

"It's really about how we overcome the constraints in an urban city, just like Singapore, to really increase food production sustainably, and more importantly, at scale," he said.

Even as technology is being embraced, Ms Fu highlighted that food safety is paramount.

Novel foods have emerged on the market, including cultured or cell-based meat, which do not have a history of use.

SFA had established in 2019 a novel food regulatory framework. Last December, Singapore was the first country to allow cultured chicken to be sold as a food product.

In April, Singapore also launched FRESH - the Future Ready Food Safety Hub - a partnership between the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), SFA and Nanyang Technological University. The partnership seeks to support new product development, particularly novel food, by "plugging the gaps in scientific capabilities for food safety risk assessment and validation".

"Food safety and security are two sides of a coin," Ms Fu said. "To realise the vision of sustainable food supply to address developmental goals of alleviating poverty and hunger, regulators, businesses and scientists must work collaboratively."

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New solutions are needed for more sustainable food: Grace Fu

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THE need for sustainable food production has "never been more urgent", and new solutions are needed to drive this, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Friday. Read more at The Business Times.

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Tim

I heard this today relating to a data breach in 2022 that the UK Government. An unprecedented superinjunction was made at the High Court in September 2023 but now lifted and the he Information Commissioner’s Office said the body had decided “no further regulatory action is required at this time in this case” on Tuesday

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MoD official responsible for major Afghan data breach still works for government

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Email blunder potentially put up to 100,000 people at risk and triggered the evacuation of thousands of Afghans who were brought to the UK under a secret resettlement scheme

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CNA Article: Adoption of autonomous vehicles is one race Singapore is not keen on winning

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Specific regulations: Road Traffic (Autonomous Motor Vehicles) Rules 2017 - Singapore Statutes Online

Singapore has been more hesitant in adopting AV tech, and has written specifically in their regulations to prohibit private actors from starting AV services, or even trialing them without regulatory approval.

-Cal

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Tension between using new tech and regulation setting, timing and process - Brian Ferreira

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5 minute read 28.11.2024 Paul Kallenbach, Maria Rychkova and Ciara Bellis

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Bunnings under the hammer for facial recognition breach - Insight - MinterEllison

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The OAIC has found that Bunnings contravened the Privacy Act 1988, by collecting individuals’ sensitive information through a facial recognition technology system.

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The Ministry of Culture ( Kulturministeriet) secured bipartisan agreement to submit a proposal to amend the current law, strengthening the capacity for individuals to take legal action if their voice or image are depicted in deepfakes. The amendments proposed in the bill, yet to be consulted upon, address "realistic, digitally generated imitations" of an artist's work that are shared online without consent, or where individuals identify content that exploits their face, body, or voice, the law is designed to both enable individuals to request online platforms to remove deepfake content depicting their image, or for artists to seek compensation.

Caricatures, parody and satirical imagery and audio are still allowed, and section 24 b of the Danish Copyright Act permits use of works protected by copyright for satire, parody and caricature.

Tech platforms, such as Meta, X, Instagram, Tik Tok or YouTube, could be liable for "severe fines", according to Danish culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt. He told the Guardian UK: "In the bill we agree and are sending an unequivocal message that everybody has the right to their own body, their own voice and their own facial features, which is apparently not how the current law is protecting people against generative AI... Human beings can be run through the digital copy machine and be misused for all sorts of purposes and I'm not willing to accept that."

According to a review by an identity verification service, Sumsub, deepfake fraud increased more than tenfold between 2022 and 2023. Deep Media, a media intelligence company contracted to the US Department of Defense amongst others, reported that 500,000 video and audio deepfakes shared on social media in 2023 alone.

Deepfakes can result in more than psychological and reputational injury. They are used to bribe and defraud individuals, whether via the threat of publishing deepfake porn material or imitating an authority or individual to seek payment or sensitive material. In 2024, UK engineering group Arup lost $AU38.23 million after fraudsters used a digitally cloned version of a senior manager to order financial transfers during a video conference, according to the Financial Times.

The current Danish Copyright Act states that copyright belongs to the one that produces the standard or the person entrusted with copyright. The new bill, which was submitted for consultation on 7 July, intends to introduce provisions in the Act that prohibit the sharing of realistic digital reproductions of personal characteristics without consent.

Under section 65 of the Danish Copyright Act, literary or artistic work by a performing artist is already protected, meaning that performances are prevented from being recorded or made available to the public without consent for a period of 50 years after they took place. The new bill extends the protection to include artistic performances other than of literary or artistic works.

The protection measures for artists have also been expanded to add a new section 65 to the Act to implement measures against realistic, digitally generated imitations of performances being recorded and shared without consent for 50 years from the year of death of the performing artist.

For individuals, section 73 a of the Danish Copyright Act addresses realistic audio and visual imitations. It consolidates elements of existing statutory and non-statutory rules and legal principles within the Danish Criminal Code, the Danish Marketing Law, and the GDPR. The protection period is set to be 50 years from the year of death of the individual being imitated.

The amendments proposed by this bill do not directly provide for compensation and imprisonment, but they allow individuals and performing artists with a legal basis to demand that illegal digital imitations be removed from social media and other platforms. Parties can consequently seek damages and compensation under the general rules of Danish law. Under the European Union's Digital Services Act (EU DSA), if a platform does not remove illegal content after receiving a notification, the provider may be liable for financial consequences.

Critics have pointed to the limited capacity of the protective measures proposed by the bill. The laws are limited to Denmark, and the illegal deepfake content could still be accessible from other countries, even where the same content is made unavailable to users accessing social media platforms from within Denmark.

The timing of this bill is not coincidental. Denmark holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2025, which the Ministry of Culture describes as "a major and significant task, with Denmark steering the political agenda and driving the negotiations in Brussels. In the field of culture, the ambition is to make media and culture cornerstones of the defence of European democracies."

Both ambitious and agenda-setting, Denmark has won international attention for the pioneering new legal measures proposed that will build upon the digital landmark laws already proposed and accepted by the EU DSA.

The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant's opening statement to the Senate Standing Committee on the Criminal Code Amendment (Deepfake Sexual Material) Bill 2024, pointed out that deepfake detection tools are not keeping pace with the technology used to create and share this material. Open-source AI apps are largely free and simple to use to create deepfake image-based abuse material and realistic synthetic child sexual abuse material. It was Inman Grant's opinion that companies could be doing more to reduce the risks that their platforms can be used to generate damaging content.

Australians whose images or videos have been altered and posted online can contact eSafety for help to have them removed. According to their site, "eSafety investigates image-based abuse which means sharing, or threatening to share, an intimate photo or video of a person online without their consent. This includes intimate images that have been digitally altered like deepfakes."

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Denmark proposes copyright laws to protect against deepfakes - Law Society Journal

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The Danish government has announced amendments to its current copyright laws that provide a potential blueprint for Europe and beyond.

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UAE Cabinet approves launch of first integrated regulatory intelligence ecosystem in UAE Government

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A massive open online course (MOOC) for teachers is predicted to become a solution for the numerous population of teachers in Indonesia. Billy

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Indonesian education platform makes teachers ‘agents of transformation’

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The Merdeka Mengajar (PMM) platform is designed as a collaborative learning ecosystem where teachers and educators interact with each other about effective learning methods. GovInsider spoke to leaders in GovTech Edu to learn more.

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Most of the (disruptive) technologies doesn't have outreach or gets banned in Nepal. Here, we need to think if we need regulation or prohibition of cryptocurrencies.

Rita Baramu

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Singapore establishes ASEAN's Cyber Emergency Response Team to combat cybersecurity threats

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Singapore establishes ASEAN's Cyber Emergency Response Team to combat cybersecurity threats

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"Transnational organized crime groups thrive in Southeast Asian countries with limited cybersecurity and insufficient law enforcement capabilities."

To combat the rising cybercrimes in Southeast Asia, ASEAN established a Cyber Emergency Response Team, headquartered in Singapore. Online scams and ransomware attacks are disrupting the economy and targeting vulnerable groups, where severe socio-economic impacts threaten public trust. The ASEAN CERT aims to provide information sharing, training, and exercises to strengthen regional coordination. They have also established U.N.'s Norms Implementation Checklist to guide member states promote responsible cyber behaviours.

Afrina

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How ASEAN’s Cybersecurity Push Could Protect People and Economies

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As cybersecurity threats rise across Southeast Asia, new ASEAN initiatives target scam prevention, infrastructure security, and economic and social stability.

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By 2025, the Indonesian National Police (Polri) is using AI in its data command centre to support predictive policing aimed at helping officers better understand where crimes might happen and proactively prevent any social order disruptions across the country.

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Menuju Indonesia Emas 2045, Polri Dorong Transformasi Digital Berbasis AI

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Divisi Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi (Div TIK) Polri melakukan penguatan transformasi digital berbasis AI dalam koridor Asta Cita menuju Indonesia Emas 2045.

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EU Defence examples - EPRS_ATA(2022)733647_EN

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EU Defence examples - EPRS_ATA(2022)733647_EN

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Indonesia's Financial Technology (Fintech), including areas like digital banking, digital payments, digital wallets, and digital assets, has grown rapidly over the past five years. This adoption brings many benefits, such as wider accessibility and borderless transactions, which is disrupting people's financial behavior. However, there are also negative consequences, stemming from weak regulations, such as digital scams, illegal gambling, and capital market manipulation, that impact not only Indonesian citizens but also people in the ASEAN region. The new 2024 Regulations from Fintech Governing Body of Indonesia introduces a new series of mechanisms to filter, monitor, and evaluate fintech companies and platforms to minimize these negative impacts on society.

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POJK 3/2024: The Future of Fintech in Indonesia — ARMA Law

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This ARMA Update will mainly discuss the additional regulatory provisions under OJK Reg 3/2024, along with the notable changes made from the previous regulation.

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Australia rolls out age-checks for online search engines - first of it's kind. Some amazing reporting from Ange La Voi-pierre

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Australia is quietly rolling out age checks for search engines like Google

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Just as Australians are adjusting to the idea of having their ages checked for social media, age assurance rules are being applied to search engines and many other corners of the internet.

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ASIC, the Australian market regulator, has published a report on AI and how it sees the future opportunities and complications, with a specific focus on business adoption and how it could contribute to market breaches.

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The Australian Federal Government via the Productivity Commission, is working on AI adoption. The focus here is on how to regulate it and what it means for our regulators, business and society, especially our workforce.

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Manpower Ministry to Require THR (Religious Holiday Allowances) Payments for Online Ride-Hailing Drivers in Indonesia

(Stefanus Anggara Hagata, U8037792)

The Indonesian Manpower Ministry is preparing a regulation that will require online ride-hailing and delivery platforms to provide religious holiday allowances (THR) in cash to their drivers, following protests by hundreds of workers demanding fair treatment. Currently labeled as “partners,” these drivers are pushing to be recognized as employees eligible for benefits like THR, which the ministry acknowledges as a cultural and legal right. The ruling aims to close loopholes used by companies to avoid such obligations.

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Online ride-hailing drivers and transport workers staged a demonstration at the Manpower Ministry in South Jakarta on Monday to demand holiday allowances.

anpower Minister Yassierli has said that his ministry will issue a regulation on the provision of holiday allowances (THR) for ojol (online motorcycle taxi) drivers soon.

The ministry was still finalizing the regulation, Yassierli told the online taxi drivers during their rally in front of the ministry on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta, on Monday.

"I agree that THR is our culture. I can imagine that at the end of Ramadan, the children would ask, 'Where's your THR, dad?'," he said, as quoted by kompas.com.

"Yes, we feel it. Before I became a minister, I was a loyal customer of online [ride-hailing] applications."

Yassierli emphasized that all concerned parties should sit together and discuss the matter as a form of businesses' care for their workers.

"Give us time to finalize the regulation in the coming few days," he said.

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Ojol drivers and transportation workers staged a rally demanding the payment of THR from the ride-hailing companies.

The companies, however, have refused to pay the drivers THR arguing that they are not company employees with formal relations, but rather partners.

Indonesian Transport Workers Union (SPAI) chairwoman Lili Pujiati earlier said that the demonstration would take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Today [Monday], we, the Alliance of THR Demands for Ojol, are demanding THR for ojol, online taxis and couriers by holding protests at the Manpower Ministry and in cities across Indonesia, including a mass 'off bid' [turning off the app] action," Lili said in a written statement on Monday, as reported by bisnis.com.

The protest not only involved ojol drivers but also online taxi drivers and couriers, with an estimated 500 to 700 participants.

The demonstrators were members of three labor confederations, five labor unions and 90 labor communities.

The three confederations were the Congress of Indonesia Unions Alliance (KASBI), the All-Indonesia Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI) and the All-Indonesia United Workers Confederation (KPBI).

The demonstrators demanded the provision of THR equivalent to the provincial minimum wage for workers. They are also calling for the elimination of the partnership employment system, which they believe disadvantages workers.

According to Lili, this demand reflects the accumulated dissatisfaction of transportation workers with app providers or transportation service companies, which are seen as neglecting the rights of workers who have been employed for years.

They base their demands on the Labor Law, which classifies online motorcycle taxi drivers as permanent workers due to their fulfillment of the key elements of employment, wages and instructions in the employer-employee relationship.

"Ten years have passed and no one has provided THR for them [the drivers], even though they work every day and generate hundreds of millions," Lili said, as quoted by kompas.com.

The ojol drivers urged the government to step in and find a solution to their demands.

They also called on the Manpower Ministry to issue populist policies that favor ojol drivers and workers from other platforms.

To ensure the safety of the ojol demonstration, the Jakarta Police deployed a total of 356 officers.

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Manpower ministry to issue ruling on THR for online ride-hailing drivers - Society - The Jakarta Post

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Online ride-hailing drivers and transport workers staged a demonstration at the Manpower Ministry in South Jakarta on Monday to demand holiday allowances.

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The National Assembly Amends The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act

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The Nigerian government has recently enacted the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024 to improve and enhance the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention, etc.) Act 2015.

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Posted by Aisha Yakubu

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Australia passes world-first law banning under-16s from social media despite safety concerns

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Bill passes amid warning that process has been rushed and that a ban could push teenagers towards the dark web or into isolation

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Travis - Apple aims to release iOS 26 in September 2025. However, due to not being able to meet Europe’s Digital Market Act interoperability clause, some key features that utilise visited places via an encrypted mechanism will not be able to be rolled out in Europe specifically.

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Google Found in Violation, The Indonesian Business Competition Supervisory Commission Imposes Fine of IDR 202.5 Billion - Indonesia

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Google Found in Violation, The Indonesian Business Competition Supervisory Commission Imposes Fine of IDR 202.5 Billion - Indonesia

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Google LLC was proven to have committed monopolistic practices (Article 17) and abused of dominant position to limit the market and technological development (Article 25 paragraph (1) letter b) in Case No. 03/KPPU-I/2024 concerning Alleged Violation of Law Number 5 Year 1999 related to the Implementation of Google Play Billing System.

For this violation, the Commission Panel imposed a fine of Rp202.5 billion (equivalent to USD 12.65 million) and ordered Google LLC to stop the mandatory use of Google Play Billing in the Google Play Store.

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This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.

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The European Commission released a voluntary code of practice spelling out how the EU’s new AI Act will apply to powerful general-purpose models, requiring developers such as OpenAI, Google and Microsoft to disclose training data, assess safety risks and curb copyright misuse. Companies that sign on gain lighter paperwork while those that refuse must prove compliance through costlier audits, yet penalties for non-compliance cannot be enforced until August 2026.

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European Union Unveils Rules for Powerful A.I. Systems

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Makers of the most advanced artificial intelligence systems face obligations for transparency, copyright protection and public safety. The rules are not enforceable until next year.

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The Provisional Measures for the Administration of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services (GAI measures) was issued in July 2023, to promote the healthy and regulated application of generative AI, outlining service providers' responsibilities such as ensuring information security and preventing discrimination.

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Digital Trade Protocol - Africa [example from Kate]

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Digital Trade Protocol - Africa [example from Kate]

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Proposed digital trade protocol for Africa - an editorial discussing the draft protocol to regulate digital trade adopted by African heads of states

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Africa's market share of the digital trade globally is small. But it has expanded rapidly, outpacing the global average.
In February 2024, African heads of states adopteda draft protocol to regulate digital tradewithin the continent. This significant yet challenging course for Africa's digital economy fits into thebroader trade agreement, designed to create a single continental market for free movement of goods, services, capital and people. Franziska Sucker explains the protocol, why it matters and what still needs to be done.
Digital trade refers to cross-border exchange of goods, services and other tradable items that is enabled by digital technologies.

Africa's market share of the digital trade globallyis small. But it has expanded rapidly, outpacing the global average. For example, between 2005 and 2021, global digital service exports increased by 40.52%, while Africa's surged by 91.53%. This, coupled with low intra-continental trade, the presence of 11 of the world's fastest-growing economies, and a young, digitally eager population of almost 1.5 billion, positions Africa as having the world's largest untapped digital growth potential.

The protocol represents a consolidated pan-African approach on digital trade issues, paving the way for regulatory convergence and common standards.

It stipulates rules for both traditional trade and digital trade-specific issues. Digital trade-specific issues include data governance, business and consumer protection, digital trade facilitation and digital inclusion.

For most of these specific issues, the protocol establishes a series of national-level implementation obligations. Sometimes it is quite specific. For example, it mandates governments to ensure private entities adopt and disclose their personal data protection and cybersecurity policies. In other areas it grants wide discretion such as determining the adequate level of data protection.

The state parties are required to specify the protocol's regulations on a range of topics. These include digital payments, data transfer, source codes, digital identities, financial technologies, emerging technologies and online safety.

Importantly, the protocol sets a default allowing the free flow of data. This means that, generally, firms must be allowed to transfer data, including personal data, outside Africa. Also, it bans data localisation, meaning firms cannot be required to store and process data locally.

It also bans customs duties on digitally transmitted products. And it prohibits governments from forcing firms to reveal their software's source codes.

Why does it matter?

It's significant because there aren't global rules governing digital trade. Ninety countries are discussing regulations under the World Trade Organisation's Joint Initiative on E-commerce, but so far without results.

This leads to two primary issues.

First, existing trade categories (services, goods and intellectual property) don't cover all items whose trade is digitally enabled. Some are left unregulated. Examples include smart devices (like smartphones and smartwatches), value packs (like combined internet and TV services), and purely digital items (such as files for 3D printing, electronic books and video games).

Second, existing WTO agreements don't address the digital trade specific issues such as data protection, cybersecurity or digital payments. This complicates digital transactions across borders.

This fragmented regulatory landscape leads to legal uncertainties and high compliance costs. The protocol thrashed out for Africa aims to address these gaps.

What are the three biggest benefits for African countries?

First, it will strengthen African digital firms.

Greater alignment of national regulations across Africa will increase legal certainty and increase interoperability across the continent's systems. This will enable smoother cross-continental data flows, and in turn:

reduce compliance costs, especially benefiting smaller enterprises

improve access to regional and global supply chains

foster collaboration across jurisdictions

build online trust.

Improving the business climate in this way will help position African digital firms and start-ups for growth and possibly disrupt monopolistic markets. It is also likely to lead to international firms setting up local operations.

Second, it will level the playing field between African countries.

In the absence of common standards and regulations, firms can be tempted to gravitate towards regions with less stringent rules to reduce cost and increase profits. This can undermine policy objectives. This is particularly true in critical areas like data protection, which safeguards user privacy. Some countries might lower their standards to attract foreign direct investment. Having a set of rules for everyone reduces the risk of a regulatory race to the bottom.

Third, it would increase Africa's impact in global digital trade rule making.

Global digital trade rules are mostly shaped by a small group of developed countries. By consolidating their position and forming a cohesive bloc, African countries can:

strengthen their collective voice and increase their influence in trade discussions, for example about digital infrastructure, capacity building and equitable access to technology

participate more confidently in various trade negotiations, pushing for developmental-focused agreements

better withstand external pressures for advanced commitments in bilateral deals.

What are the potential drawbacks?

The biggest concern is that integrating African digital economies might exacerbate the unequal distribution of benefits. This could lead to heightening inequalities on three fronts: between Africa and other regions; between different African states; and within African countries themselves.

A key issue is that the protocol may trigger competition among African countries. They could enter individual free trade agreements with external parties that initiate a race to the bottom in regulatory standards as countries attempt to attract foreign investment. This may result in the creation of regional "data hubs" favouring established dominant digital players. In turn, this could expose the African market to market power abuses, with detrimental effects on local economies and intra-African equality.

The US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership is an example of a deal that might have unintended consequences.

What's needed are complementary policies in areas such as competition and tax law, alongside special and differential treatment provisions to ensure equitable development.

Another significant issue is the potential reduction in a government's ability to protect its citizens.

First, the protocol's preference for unrestricted data flow as default is at odds with shifting global standards. It might prevent countries from controlling how their citizens' personal data is sent abroad. As a result, major tech companies from outside Africa, but operating within it, could end up controlling this data.

Second, the ban on mandatory software source code disclosure may limit the ability of countries to regulate AI technologies effectively, and hinder technology transfers that benefit local start-ups. It could also restrict the ability to scrutinise social media algorithms to protect children from harmful content.

What are the biggest barriers to implementation?

Capacity constraints. Many countries - particularly less developed ones - face significant challenges due to a lack of knowledge and budgetary constraints needed to develop supportive regulatory national-level frameworks. Countries lacking current laws will need substantial help.

Pending detailed annexures. The protocol calls for further details in yet-to-be-developed annexures on key issues. The absence of these detailed guidelines could delay the full implementation of the protocol.

Infrastructural barriers. Many African countries have infrastructural barriers to digital trade. These include poor broadband and internet connectivity, unstable electricity supply, unreliable payment systems and general logistical challenges.

The path to making the protocol effective is indeed long. It requires addressing these substantial hurdles to ensure successful implementation.

Franziska Sucker, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

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Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what's in it and what's still missing

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Africa's market share of the digital trade globally is small. But it has expanded rapidly, outpacing the global average. In February 2024, African heads of states adopteda draft protocol to regulate digital tradewithin the continent. This significant yet challenging course for Africa's digital economy fits into thebroader trade agreement, designed to create a single continental market for free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

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Ride share driver reforms - Minneapolis, USA [example from Kate]

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Ride share driver reforms - Minneapolis, USA [example from Kate]

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Minneapolis council backs Lyft/Uber driver protections: https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/08/17/minneapolis-council-passes-minimum-pay-for-uber-and-lyft-drivers-despite-companies-threats/

Here's an example of what you can add:

In this case, this isn't comprehensive regulation of ride-share services. Instead, it highlights recent news about a City Council vote to require higher pay, workplace protections drivers and some public safety provisions. The article highlights how a local regulatory action has prompted strong responses from drivers, Lyft and Uber.
-Kate

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Minneapolis City Council voted 7-5 on Thursday in favor of a package of regulations that would more than double pay for Uber and Lyft drivers and give them greater protections against unfair termination, or "deactivation."

Mayor Jacob Frey's necessary sign off on the ordinance is in doubt, however, after he sent a letter to the council on Wednesday urging them to take more time considering the policy. The council likely lacks the necessary nine votes to override a mayoral veto, setting drivers up for more disappointment after Gov. Tim Walz vetoed a similar proposal earlier this year.

Asked if he would veto the ordinance, a spokesperson for Frey said he will review the ordinance and its amendments. He has until Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. to veto the ordinance or let it become law.

Drivers celebrated the vote in City Hall and embraced the ordinance's lead author Council Member Robin Wonsley.

"Today was a day that we have been fighting for a long, long time," said Eid Ali, president of the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association. "It's a day that we will be celebrating for quite some time because it's the day that workers won."

Wonsley urged Frey to sign the ordinance despite his concerns.

"You've supported all of the amazing worker rights policies we've led at the city. Will you do the same in this moment and show that you are not a puppet for corporate exploitation?" said Wonsley, who has often been at odds with the second-term mayor since her 2021 election.

Lyft said it will pull out of Minneapolis if the ordinance takes effect, while Uber said it could do the same. Minneapolis council members seemed uniformly unconvinced that the companies would actually leave the city. They also uniformly said they believed drivers should be guaranteed a minimum wage, but they were divided on the details of the ordinance.

In his letter, Frey urged the council to wait until a task force on Uber and Lyft compensation convened by the governor comes back with policy recommendations, which are due on Jan. 1. That's when the ordinance is scheduled to take effect should Frey sign it.

Frey also said the state has requested data from Uber and Lyft that should help them determine a fair rate of compensation.

Under the ordinance passed by City Council, drivers would earn at least $1.40 per mile and 51 cents per minute - which would increase with inflation - and at least $5 per ride. Tips would not count toward the minimum compensation, and drivers would be entitled to 80% of any rider cancellation fee.

Drivers say their earnings have declined over the years to less than 60 cents per mile and 14 cents per minute on average.

Both companies have warned the proposed minimum rate will lead demand to plummet and ultimately hurt drivers' wages.

Lyft, in a letter to the council, said a $20 trip would double to $40 under the ordinance, while rides in low-income areas would be more expensive than a taxi cab in Manhattan. Lyft said drivers in Minneapolis last quarter earned an average of $37 per utilized hour - the time between accepting a ride and dropping off a passenger - including tips and bonuses.

The prospect of higher rates has drawn pushback from some disabled residents who fear a service they depend on could become unaffordable. Council President Andrea Jenkins authored an amendment, which was included in the final ordinance, that entitles drivers with wheelchair accessible vehicles to a higher minimum rate.

Drivers say that claim is ludicrous. Their wages are far less, they say, and they must pay for their own vehicles, gas, maintenance and insurance. Drivers also don't believe that the companies will have to raise prices if wages increase. Rather, they believe the companies can simply take less of customers' fares for themselves.

If passed, Minneapolis would join Washington state and New York City in setting minimum pay rates for Uber and Lyft drivers. The companies say fare prices have increased alongside drivers' wages in both places.

The Minneapolis ordinance also takes aim at deactivation, which drivers say can happen with little recourse, leaving them saddled with debt for cars they can no longer use to earn money.

Under the ordinance, companies must give drivers five days' notice of a proposed deactivation or sanction and the opportunity to present their response within seven days. That raised alarm from the mayor and the companies that they would be unable to immediately remove dangerous drivers from the platform.

The ordinance's authors - Wonsley and Council Members Jamal Osman and Jason Chavez - authored an amendment that would allow the companies to temporarily suspend drivers for major infractions that endanger public safety.

For smaller infractions, drivers would have the right to have a hearing within seven days, and companies would have to determine it was more likely than not that the infraction occurred to keep drivers off their platforms.

The ordinance would require the companies to reconsider the deactivations of drivers going back to 2021, a proposal the companies have balked at. Uber and Lyft say they would have to retroactively review deactivations for which they may not have records and in some cases find victims to testify against drivers.

Council Member Andrew Johnson advised taking more time to work with the mayor to win his approval, arguing that failing to override a veto would deal a greater blow to the effort. If the council cannot override a mayoral veto, the council must go back to the drawing board and cannot bring something forward substantially similar. He moved to send the ordinance back to committee, but that was rejected by a majority of the council.

Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw supported sending the ordinance back for further review, arguing pushing forward with a proposal likely to fail just hurts drivers.

"There is no reason for us to re-traumatize folks when we can all count and we see the numbers here," Vetaw said. "We have a great opportunity to work collectively ... for the folks who have been showing up here for an entire year."

Council members who voted in favor were Chavez, Aisha Chughtai, Jeremiah Ellison, Andrea Jenkins, Osman, Elliott Payne and Wonsley. Council members opposed were Emily Koski, Johnson, Linea Palmisano, Michael Rainville and Vetaw.

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Minneapolis council passes minimum pay for Uber and Lyft drivers despite companies' threats - Minnesota Reformer

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Minneapolis City Council voted 7-5 on Thursday in favor of a package of regulations that would more than double pay for Uber and Lyft drivers and give them greater protections against unfair termination, or "deactivation." Mayor Jacob Frey's necessary sign off on the ordinance is in doubt, however, after he sent a letter to the [...]