The Wikimedia Foundation said it will hold talks with the Indonesian government after Jakarta threatened to block Wikipedia over registration rules the firm says “departs from international human rights norms”.
A meeting will take place next week to discuss Indonesia’s demands for Wikimedia to register as an “electronic system provider” (PSE), the Wikipedia parent company said in a statement.
Under a 2020 regulation, all PSE companies, including those based outside the country, are required to register for what the government says are for legal and user protection purposes.
Critics have pointed to a provision that requires registered PSEs to take down content deemed as “causing public unrest and disturbing public order” as a free speech restriction.
The government on Wednesday gave the foundation seven days to register or face its services, including Wikipedia Indonesia, being blocked.
“We intend to explain the Foundation’s unique position as a non-profit technology host for Wikipedia ... and the significant ways that registration under Indonesia’s MR5 regulation departs from international human rights norms and threatens the privacy and security of Wikipedia editors,” the foundation’s statement said.
It added “we will resist inappropriate orders, and we push back on laws that require very rapid and guaranteed disclosure of user data without the ability to raise appropriate legal objections”.
A blockage of Wikipedia in Indonesia will deny the country access to the largest free knowledge repository, the statement said. — AFP
