Indonesia restricts geospatial data downloads with threat of prison

Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has implemented new restrictions on its Sistem Informasi Geospasial (SIGAP) portal, threatening users with criminal prosecution for unauthorized downloads of geospatial data. The restrictions specifically target the downloading, extraction, or conversion of data in the Shapefile format.

According to ministry officials, the move is intended to prevent the manipulation and illegal resale of forest data. Doni Prabowo, Head of Forest Monitoring and Geospatial Information, stated that uncontrolled access could allow individuals to falsely claim that protected forest areas are not under protection.

Users of the platform are now greeted with a notice stating the data is for ‘view-only’ purposes. Under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, unauthorized alteration or dissemination of thematic geospatial information can lead to significant penalties. Depending on the specific legal application, consequences may include fines or imprisonment ranging from six months to several years.