In line with the rules, companies deemed “Private Electronic System Providers” must register with the government’s database to operate in the country, or otherwise face a nationwide ban. The Indonesian government gave companies until July 27th to comply and has since banned those that haven’t.
Several tech companies had rushed to register in the days leading up to the deadline, which had been extended until Friday. Unfortunately, Steam, Epic Games, and other gaming companies didn't comply in time.
The requirement is part of an overarching law, called MR5, which was first introduced in 2020.
The general director of Kominfo (Indonesia's Communications Ministry), Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan said the ban will be lifted once the companies register with the country’s database.
A 2021 report from the digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation calls Indonesia’s laws “invasive of human rights,” as it puts platforms at the mercy of the Indonesian government, which will ban them if not in compliance with local laws.
We'll keep you updated as the situation develops.
Source: Reuters
UPDATED: Indonesia unblocks Steam and Yahoo, but Fortnite and FIFA are still banned.
Indonesia has lifted its ban on Steam and Yahoo now that both companies complied with the country’s restrictive laws that regulate online activity. The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) announced the news in a translated update on Twitter, noting that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 are back online as well.