On Saturday, Indonesia blocked access to PayPal, Yahoo, and several game services for failing to meet a licensing deadline.
A senior official said on Sunday that Indonesia temporarily opened access to online payment firm PayPal to allow users to access their money, following an outcry over the country’s blocking of some online services and games.
The Indonesian communication ministry blocked PayPal, the search engine website Yahoo, and several gaming services on Saturday for failing to meet a licensing deadline.
Registration is required under rules that will be released in late November 2020, giving authorities broad powers to compel platforms to disclose data of specific users and remove content deemed unlawful or that “disturbs public order.”
Samuel Abrijani Pangerapan, a senior official at Indonesia’s Communications Ministry, said in an online briefing on Sunday that the government is allowing PayPal access for five working days.
“Hopefully, that is enough time for users to migrate, get their money, and find other services,” he said, adding that PayPal had not yet communicated.
Thousands of comments flooded an Instagram post by the Communication Ministry on Saturday, criticizing the government’s blockade of unregistered digital services.
Many messages expressed concern that the government’s decision would harm Indonesia’s online gaming industry and freelance workers who use PayPal.
Authorities will unblock the websites if they follow registration rules, according to Samuel, who defends the measure as protecting Indonesian internet users and the digital ecosystem.
Other affected gaming services, such as Steam, Dota, and Counter-Strike, have been in contact with the government, he added.
PayPal and Valve, the video game company, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
