Big Tech and AI developers operate across borders, so a coordinated ASEAN policy direction and a unified stance are necessary to protect journalism and ensure fair use of journalistic works.

Chairman Komaruddin Hidayat urges ASEAN nations to harmonize their approaches to global digital platforms and AI developers in order to safeguard journalistic works.

Quality journalism requires funding and ethical responsibility, and AI training often uses content without permission or fair compensation, prompting calls for clearer legal status and stronger producer–creator relationships.

The forum explored the potential application of related or neighboring rights, linking this to Indonesia’s ongoing Copyright Law revisions and underscoring that national rules alone are insufficient.

The event underscored that a common understanding and robust policy are needed to support journalists and press companies amid evolving digital ecosystems.

During the ASEAN Forum on the Protection of Journalistic Works in the Digital Era 2026 in Bali, the challenges facing journalism extend beyond the shift to digital, including dominance by global platforms and AI use of news content.

There is hope that the forum will yield concrete ideas, strengthen policy advocacy, and unite ASEAN voices to address how technological changes affect the press industry.

Protection cannot be handled by individual countries alone due to the cross-border nature of technology companies and AI training practices.

Remarks emphasized transparent text and data mining practices with journalistic content and clearer limits on use for AI development, including attribution and remuneration.