Indonesia’s Commitment to Ethical and Inclusive AI Governance
On June 27, 2025, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital reaffirmed its commitment to embedding ethical principles and inclusivity into its artificial intelligence (AI) policies. This announcement comes as Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital, Nezar Patria, represented the country at the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence held in Bangkok.
Translating Ethics into Action
During his address at the forum, Patria emphasized Indonesia’s active efforts to translate the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI (2021) into concrete policy measures. He highlighted that the government has progressed beyond merely endorsing global principles by integrating them into the nation’s developing regulatory framework.
“Indonesia has integrated UNESCO’s AI ethics and inclusivity principles into real policy formulation and governance,” Patria stated, outlining the significant steps taken towards establishing a solid ethical framework for AI.
Key Initiatives and Future Directions
Among the initiatives highlighted by Patria was the near-finalization of an Ethics-based Artificial Intelligence Roadmap, developed through multi-stakeholder engagement. This roadmap aims to guide AI development in a manner that aligns with ethical standards and inclusivity.
Additionally, the completion of a National AI Readiness Assessment (AI-RAM) was noted, which maps the sectoral strengths and risks associated with AI development. The government is expected to issue a formal regulatory framework for AI in the near future, outlining specific guidelines for ethical AI governance.
International Cooperation for Ethical AI
Patria called for deeper cooperation among countries of the Global South to address shared challenges in AI governance. He stressed that for Indonesia, international collaboration is not just about technology transfer; it fundamentally involves sharing responsibility for ethical and inclusive AI development. “We must also ensure that no country is left behind in the transformative AI transition,” he emphasized.
Global Forum Overview
The UNESCO Global Forum, running from June 24 to 27 in Bangkok, gathered policymakers, academics, and industry experts from over 190 countries. The forum’s purpose was to evaluate the progress made since the adoption of the UNESCO AI ethics guidelines in 2021, highlighting the global commitment to fostering an ethical AI landscape.
As AI continues to evolve and shape various sectors, Indonesia’s proactive stance on ethical and inclusive AI governance serves as a model for other nations striving to align technological advancement with fundamental ethical principles.
