The Depok court bribery scandal
The arrest of senior judges at the Depok District Court has once again shaken public confidence in judicial system. What initially appeared to be a routine civil dispute over land ownership has developed into a corruption case involving high-ranking court officials, corporate representatives and judicial staff.
Poco Leok’s victory
The legal battle between the residents of Poco Leok in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, and the Manggarai regency administration offers a rare courtroom moment in Indonesia’s long-running conflict between development policy and local community rights.
Social media restrictions
The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) is set to enact social media restrictions for children under 16 starting March 28, 2026. Presented as a measure to protect vulnerable groups from harmful content, the policy has gained notable support, particularly from parents struggling to manage their children’s growing dependence on social media. Yet, despite its good intentions, the policy raises several important questions.
The political economy of local corruption in Indonesia
The arrest of Rejang Lebong Regent Muhammad Fikri Thobari, a politician affiliated with the National Mandate Party (PAN), by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) once again highlights a persistent feature of Indonesian local politics: corruption at the regional level remains deeply embedded in the political economy of governance.
A crime without a suspect
When it comes to confusing the public, Indonesia’s law enforcement never truly takes a day off. Recently, the national police’s Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (Dittipidsiber) confiscated assets worth Rp 58.1 billion linked to alleged money laundering through online gambling. Despite the scale of the case, curiously, no suspects have been named, raising questions about the police’s seriousness in tackling illegal operations.
The Disposable Couriers (2)
Several irregularities have emerged in the 2-ton crystal methamphetamine smuggling case involving crew members of the Sea Dragon Tarawa. One particularly noteworthy aspect is the recruitment process of Fandi Ramadhan, which suggests that he occupied the lowest level within the operation’s structure. It does not necessarily negate criminal responsibility, but it is important to examine the extent to which he truly understood and exercised control over the criminal activity that followed.
Domestic workers and the politics of legislative delay
For more than two decades, Indonesia has debated the need to legally protect one of the country’s most invisible workforces: domestic workers. Yet despite repeated commitments from lawmakers, the long-awaited Domestic Workers Protection Bill (RUU PPRT) remains stalled in the House of Representatives. The latest debate over dispute-resolution mechanisms shows that the problem is no longer simply legal complexity, but the politics of legislative delay.
Who owns the IP?
Indonesia’s digital economy is expanding at a remarkable pace. With more than 190 million internet users and one of the largest populations of gamers in the world, the country has become one of Southeast Asia’s most valuable digital markets. The problem, however, is increasingly obvious: while Indonesians generate enormous digital consumption, much of the economic value flows abroad. The key question is no longer whether Indonesia’s digital market is large. It is whether Indonesians actually own the intellectual property behind the content they consume.
When Wikipedia turns read-only
The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has restricted login access to Wikipedia since February 25, 2026, citing non-compliance with PSE regulations. Unlike a total ban, the restriction still allows users to read articles but prevents contributors from logging in and participating in the production of knowledge. What, then, is the likely outcome of this situation?
The fine line between tax compliance and financial surveillance
Indonesia’s effort to modernize its tax administration has entered a new stage. A recently issued regulation from the Finance Ministry requires credit card issuers and payment processors to submit transaction data to the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP). For the government, the policy is a logical extension of its ongoing push to strengthen compliance and expand the country’s limited tax base.