Criminal Liability in Press Law and Artificial Intelligence-Generated Disinformation: Urgency of Reform in Indonesia
Artificial intelligence (AI) presents significant challenges to the criminal liability framework under Indonesian press law, particularly in the regulation of AI-generated disinformation. This paper addresses these challenges through normative legal research, employing statutory, comparative, and conceptual approaches. The findings demonstrate that existing press law provisions are inadequate to regulate the complexity of AI-driven disinformation. This inadequacy has created a legal vacuum regarding accountability, undermining both legal certainty and the effectiveness of press regulation in the digital era. The paper argues that reform is urgently required to strengthen accountability while safeguarding press freedom. Such reform must incorporate the principles of prudence, independence, and AI ethics to ensure that press law remains responsive to technological innovation and continues to uphold the integrity of digital journalism.
Akbar, Muh, Fhad Syahril, A Darmawasnya Tl, Murdiono Murdiono, and Arini Asriyani. "Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights: A Legal Study of Potential Dangers in Indonesia" 11 (2024): 359–64. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/humanrights/2020/07/16/b.
Alhakim, Abdurrakhman. "The Urgency of Legal Protection for Journalists from the Risk of Criminalization of the Information and Electronic Transaction Law in Indonesia." Indonesian Journal of Legal Development 4, no. 1 (2022): 89–106.
———. "The Urgency of Legal Protection for Journalists from the Risk of Criminalization of the Information and Electronic Transaction Law in Indonesia." Journal of Indonesian Legal Development 4, no. 1 (2022): 89–106. https://doi.org/10.14710/jphi.v4i1.89-106.
Ali, Waleed, dan Mohamed Hassoun. “Artificial Intelligence and Automated Journalism: Contemporary Challenges and New Opportunities.” International Journal of Media, Journalism and Mass Communications 5, no. 1 (2019): 40–49. https://doi.org/10.20431/2454-9479.0501004.
Anshar, Muhammad. "Analysis of Journalistic Regulations in Press Law No. 40 of 1999 Analysis of Journalism Regulations in Press Law no . 40 of 1999" 2, no. 1 (2025): 42–61.
Ayy, Salsabela Qurota. "Juridical Analysis on the Application of Positive Law on Insults to State Institutions Cases of Insulting the President on Social Media." Unisula Semarang, n.d. https://repository.unissula.ac.id/38030/1/Ilmu Hukum_30302100302_fullpdf.pdf.
Bontridder, Noémi, dan Yves Poullet. “The role of artificial intelligence in disinformation.” Data & Policy 3 (2021): e32. https://doi.org/10.1017/dap.2021.20.
Cendekia, M S, M S Dr. Drs. Ismail Nurdin, M S Dra. Sri Hartati, and A I 228/JTI/2019. Social Research Methodology. MEDIA SAHABAT CENDEKIA, 2019. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=tretDwAAQBAJ.
Fadjar, Mukti. Dualism of Normative and Empirical Law Research. 1 ed. Jogjakarta: Pustaka Siswa, 2010.
Fajarwati, Fitrianti. "Journal of Law Science." Journal of Law Science 2, no. 1 (2024): 15–23.
Febrinazahra, Mahdiyyah, Davy Putra Ananda, Faculty of Computer Science, South Jakarta, Faculty of Islamic Religion, Kebayoran Baru, and South Jakarta. "Algorithms Against the Spread of Hoax News in the Media" 8, no. 2 (2024): 176–86.
Hats off to you, Ragil. "Analysis of Legal Protection of Journalists Based on Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press" 1, no. 1 (2023): 19–24. https://ejournalpasca.unisi.ac.id/index.php/ilr/article/view/66/40.
Haris, Muhammad Tan Abdul Rahman, and Tantimin Tantimin. "Analysis of Criminal Law Liability for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Indonesia." Journal of Legal Communication (JKH) 8, no. 1 (2022): 307–16. https://doi.org/10.23887/jkh.v8i1.44408.
Hojanto, Ongky, Marlinda Irwanti, Graduate School, and University Bachelor. "The Journal of Supernatural Medicine." Scholar.Archive.Org, no. 2022 (2022): 111–18. https://scholar.archive.org/work/v7rywulsnvfb7nqfrfowldzoju/access/wayback/http://jurnal.usahid.ac.id/index.php/mahardikaadiwidia/article/download/34/652.
Criminal Law in the Perspective of Democracy and Human Rights, Harmonization, Fatimah Nada, Favian Faruq Abqori, Dinda Ratu Nur FatimahRH, Inda Rahadiyan, and Budi Agus Riswandi. "National Proceedings of the Actual Law of the Idea of Regulating Artificial Intelligence as a Legal Subject in Indonesia," n.d., 149–57. https://eduparx.id/blog/insight/artificial-intelligence/4-jenis-artificial-intelligence-atau-ai.
Husna, A N, A A Zahra, M I Rosyidi, L Qomariyah, Y Kurniaty, M E Purbaya, F A Afgani, A I Perdana, A Triaji, and F Romadlon. Empowering a Digital Society. Unimma Press, 2021. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=I38-EAAAQBAJ.
Hutabarat, Ernis, Ampuan Situmeang, and Junimart Girsang. "Juridical Review of Article 15 of the Press Law on the Functions and Authority of the Press Council in Preventing Fake News." Al-Qanun: Journal of Islamic Law Thought and Reform 26, no. 1 (2023): 57–70. https://doi.org/10.15642/alqanun.2023.26.1.57-70.
I Komang Aditya Sanjaya, I Nyoman Gede Sugiartha, and Ketut Adi Wirawan. "Legal Regulations on the Spread of Fake News by the Press in Indonesia." Journal of Legal Construction 4, no. 1 (2023): 46–51. https://doi.org/10.22225/jkh.4.1.6029.46-51.
Iin Rahmawati, Ruslan Abdul Gani. "Criminal Liability for Press Delics (A Normative Study)." Chemistry 1, no. 4 (2011): 133–90. https://legalitas.unbari.ac.id/index.php/Legalitas/article/viewFile/74/62.
Independent, Alliance of Journalists. Disinformation for the 2024, 2024 elections.
Iskandar, Dudi Sabil. "Press Construction in Building Healthy Information Strengthens National Resilience." The Construction of the Press in Building Healthy Information to Strengthen National Resilience, 2015, p.42-52.
Jamaludin, Ahmad. "Criminal Liability for the Press Who Spread Fake News in Indonesia." Journal of the Forum for Legal and Social Studies 4, no. 1 (2022): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.15575/vh.v4i1.16687.
Winner, B. Press, law, and human rights. Press Council, 2016.
Shirley Scott, Shirley; Miss; Ernita Prima. "Legal and Ethical Challenges (Social Engineering Towards Freedom of Opinion in the Digital World)." Scientific Research Center 2, no. 4 (2023): 1275–1289. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381100251_HUBUNGAN_MOTIVASI_IBU_DUKUNGAN_KELUARGA_DAN_PERAN_BIDAN_TERHADAP_KUNJUNGAN_NIFAS_DI_PUSKESMAS_MARIPARI_KABUPATEN_GARUT_TAHUN_2023.
Nur Khalimatus Sa'diyah, SH., MH. "Criminal Law Reform in Response to Social and Technological Change," 2025. https://beritaborneo.com/main/pembaharuan-hukum-pidana-dalam-menanggapi-perubahan-sosial-dan-teknologi/.
Nurdin, N, D Guntara, and M Abas. "Press Criminal Liability in the Crime of Defamation is Linked to Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press (Study ...." UNES Law Review 6, no. 1 (2023): 1544–52. https://review-unes.com/index.php/law/article/view/912%0Ahttps://review-unes.com/index.php/law/article/download/912/704.
Pancaningrum, Rina Khairani. "Journal of Legal Communication (JKH)." Humanism in Corruption Laws and Regulations in Indonesia No.1 No.2, No. 11 (2015): 746–58. https://ejournal.undiksha.ac.id/index.php/jkh/article/view/6106.
Persada, Muhammad Alberto, Firman Muntaqo, and Ruben Achmad. "Strengthening the Function of the Press Council as a Mediator for Solving Press Cases in the Indonesian Constituendum." Lex LATA 5, no. 1 (2023): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.28946/lexl.v5i1.1947.
Putra, A A, T G Samudra, L Priyatama, M Adriaman, V F Fauzi, A Pratama, H Fadhlansyah, and others. Method of Writing Legal Articles. Tri Scientific Education Foundation, 2024. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=PE7yEAAAQBAJ.
Putranto, Rahmat Dwi. “Legal Digitization Analysis: Study of National Legal System Renewal.” Literatus: literature for social impact and cultural studies 4, no. 3 (2022): 1163–72.
Rahmadhany, Anissa, Anggi Aldila Safitri, and Irwansyah Irwansyah. "The Phenomenon of Spreading Hoaxes and Hate Speech on Social Media." Journal of Business Information Technology and Systems 3, no. 1 (2021): 30–43. https://doi.org/10.47233/jteksis.v3i1.182.
Ratmono, B.G.B.M. Democracy in the Post Truth Era (2021). Gramedia Popular Literature, 2021. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=mBwpEAAAQBAJ.
Renata Christha Auli, S.H. "Article 28 paragraph (2) of the 2024 ITE Law that ensnares the spreader of SARA hatred," 2024. https://www.hukumonline.com/klinik/a/pasal-28-ayat-(2)-uu-ite-2024-yang-menjerat-penyebar-kebencian-sara-lt65a6950b71ccc/.
Respati, Adnasohn Aqilla. "Reformulation of the ITE Law on Artificial Intelligence Compared to the European Union and China AI Act Regulation" 7, no. 3 (2024): 4–12.
Riyanto, Andi Dwi. "Indonesia Digital Data 2024." Hootsuite (We are Social), 2024. https://andi.link/hootsuite-we-are-social-data-digital-indonesia-2024/.
Sarjito, Aris. "Hoaxes, Disinformation, and National Resilience: Information Technology Threats in Indonesia's Digital Society," 2024, 175–86.
Sasmito, ed. The Struggle of Civil Society to Erase the Colonial False News Article (n.d.).
Satino, Iswahyuni, and Surahmad. "The role of the press in law enforcement is reviewed in terms of Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press." Essence of Law 3, no. 1 (2021): 101–10. https://doi.org/10.35586/esensihukum.v3i1.57.
Faithful, Unfaithful. Hendradi. "Strategic Steps to Counter Hoaxes: A Policy and Legal Approach" 2, no. 1 (2022): 1–23.
Shader, Mulki, Dio Ashar Wicaksana, Ade Wahyudin, Rizki Yudha, and Maidina Rahmawati. Press Freedom and Safety of Journalists in Crisis. Edited by Erasmus. 1 ed. Jakarta: Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, 2021. https://icjr.or.id/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Penelitian-Situasi-Kebebasan-Pers-Keselamatan-Jurnalis-dan-Pemenuhan-Hak-Hak-Ketenagakerjaan-Selama-Masa-Pandemi.pdf.
Simanjuntak, Juwitha Putri; Hery Firmansyah. "The complexity of the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in evidence in criminal court." Kertha Semaya Journal 12, no. 12 (2024): 3097–3112. https://doi.org/: https://doi.org/10.24843/KS.2024.v12.i12.p01 ABSTRACT.
Sulistio, Faizin, and Aizahra Daffa Salsabilla. "Accountability for Criminal Acts Committed by Autonomous Agents of Artificial Intelligence." U.S. Law Review 6, no. 2 (2023): 5479–90.
Sulistyono, Moh Puji, and Dwi Putri Lestarika. "Criminal Liability Against Press Editors in the Case of Hoax News by Law" 2, no. 40 (2024): 182–91. https://doi.org/10.38043/jah.v7i2.5610.
Syahrir Nur Dachlan. “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Law Enforcement: Towards a More Accurate and Efficient Justice System.” Sinergi International Journal of Law 2, no. 3 (2024): 198–202. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.61194/law.v2i3.157.
Wulandari1, Fathika Ratna, Nanda Ameliah2, Siti Nurjanah3, and Muhammad Ikhwan4. "The Implications of the ITE Law on Press Freedom in Indonesia." Journal of Progressive Law 8, no. 1 (2025): 1928–40.
Yunus, Mudha'i, Hendra Saputra, and Prima Angkupi. "Legal Challenges in Technology Development." Journal of Law and Sharia 1, no. 2 (2024): 75–89.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zainal Arifin, Emi Puasa Handayani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Jurist-Diction (P-ISSN 2721-8392, E-ISSN 2655-8297), published by Universitas Airlangga, is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
This license permits users to:
- Share – copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format;
- Adapt – remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use.
These freedoms are granted under the following conditions:
Attribution – You must provide appropriate credit, include a link to the license, and indicate if any changes were made. This may be done in any reasonable manner, but not in a way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions – You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that restrict others from exercising the rights granted under the license.
Note: As of Volume 5, No. 1 (2022), Jurist-Diction has adopted the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), replacing its previous license (CC BY-NC-SA).
