Yes, ad blockers are legal in Indonesia, but their use is constrained by data privacy and consumer protection laws. The Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) permits ad blocking under Law No. 19/2016 on Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE Law), provided it does not interfere with lawful digital content distribution or violate user consent.
Key Regulations for Ad Blockers in Indonesia
- ITE Law Compliance: Ad blockers must not disrupt essential public service communications or government-mandated digital services, as outlined in Kominfo’s 2023 Circular on Digital Service Disruptions.
- Consumer Protection (Law No. 8/1999): Blocking ads that constitute contractual obligations (e.g., paid subscriptions) may breach fair trade practices, per the Trade Ministry’s 2024 guidelines.
- Data Privacy (PDP Law 2022): Ad blockers collecting user data without explicit consent violate Peraturan Menteri Kominfo No. 5/2020 on personal data protection in digital advertising.
Recent 2026 draft amendments to the ITE Law propose stricter penalties for ad blockers that circumvent mandatory government or public interest disclosures, signaling a shift toward regulated usage. Publishers may seek injunctions under civil law if ad blocking impairs revenue streams protected by copyright. Users should verify that their ad blocker does not modify or intercept encrypted traffic, as this could trigger liability under Peraturan Menteri Kominfo No. 10/2021 on network neutrality.