Indonesia urges UNESCO to strengthen cultural repatriation and AI regulation

Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has called on UNESCO to strengthen efforts regarding the repatriation of cultural artifacts to their countries of origin. Speaking at a UNESCO Executive Board meeting in Paris, Zon emphasized that the return of cultural heritage is a moral necessity to address historical injustices and restore cultural sovereignty. He highlighted Indonesia's ongoing efforts to recover items such as the Dubois Collection from the Netherlands.

In addition to repatriation, Zon advocated for ethical AI regulation to ensure that technological advancements do not widen global inequalities. He stressed that AI governance must be transparent, human-centered, and respectful of cultural and linguistic diversity.

Parallel to these international discussions, the EDUCULTECH 2026 conference held by Universitas Tanjungpura in Pontianak addressed similar themes. The conference focused on the ethical challenges of integrating artificial intelligence into education, emphasizing the need for digital literacy, inclusive practices, and the preservation of multiculturalism in the face of rapid digital transformation.