JAKARTA. The government has chosen to take a distant stance on state-run telecommunications firm PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia’s (Telkom) decision to block the US-based Netflix, calling it a “corporate privilege”.

Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said Telkom’s move did not represent the government’s stance despite Telkom’s status as a state-owned enterprise.

"Other internet service providers are still allowing Netflix access. So, it is a pure corporate decision," Rudiantara told thejakartapost.com on Thursday in Jakarta, adding that the requirement for Netflix to open a representative office in Indonesia was subject to regulations.

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Netflix combines three kinds of services, namely providing internet content, broadcasting and streaming instead of “pay-per-view”. The streaming service is currently under review.

Rudiantara acknowledged that among issues with Netflix was its content, which needed to go through Indonesian censors.

"It will be difficult for Netflix. You can see for yourself on how much content there is [in Netflix] that must be censored," he said.

Therefore, Rudiantara said the ministry was currently undergoing intensive discussions with the Culture and Education Ministry and the Umar Ismail Film Center to discuss a feasible way of censoring video-streaming content. (Anton Hermansyah)