Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, emphasized the critical role of data quality and security in protecting the public from risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) that is flawed, biased, or manipulated (11/02).

He warned that data poisoning could compromise AI systems and directly affect the public, including errors in automated decisions and misuse of personal data.

“If we want sustainable and sovereign AI innovation, then the data management we discuss today becomes very important. We need strong data management as a fundamental foundation. Therefore, I invite all of us to focus on three aspects,” Nezar said during the Data & AI Conference 2026 in Jakarta.

The Importance of Data Quality in AI Development

Nezar highlighted that AI heavily relies on the quality of datasets. Poorly maintained or unstandardized data increases the risk of generating incorrect decisions that harm society.

“AI is very vulnerable to chaos if data poisoning occurs, for example, data that is not clean,” he stressed.

Adaptive Regulations to Balance Innovation and Privacy

The Deputy Minister underlined the need for adaptive regulations that protect privacy and ethics without slowing innovation.

“Our regulations must be adaptive, strong enough to protect privacy and ethics, yet flexible to encourage experimentation and innovation. We try to provide protection without hindering innovations. So we must balance protection and growth and prevent data concentration that weakens our digital sovereignty,” Nezar explained.

Collaboration Between Public and Private Sectors

Nezar also stressed the importance of data management standards developed jointly by public and private sectors to ensure datasets used in AI are clean, relevant, and representative.

“This is very important in our discussion this morning to explore in more depth how data management standards can be discussed. DAMA, I think, can help here by involving both public and private sectors,” he said.

Human Readiness: The Key to Safe AI Implementation

He further pointed out that the main challenge is not technology itself but the preparedness of people and processes in managing data.

“The problem in utilizing the latest technology is not the largest technology, but the people and the process. Without competent talent in data and AI, the sovereignty we talk about becomes just rhetoric,” Nezar emphasized.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is opening broader collaboration opportunities to build a strong national data governance system, ensuring AI development in Indonesia is safe, accurate, and truly protects public interests.

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This article was created with AI assistance.

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