Independent Commissioner of Indonesia Business Trade Solution: The Era of Surveillance Capitalism and Digital Transformation Amidst the Global Economy

Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIn News Online - Independent Commissioner of Indonesia Business Trade Solution & Digital Transformation Innorat or, Peter F Gontha in his keynote speech said that the era of surveillance capitalism has become part of our lives in viewing technology and digital policies. This was conveyed at the Road to Islamic Digital Transformation Forum 2025 event held at the Harun Nasution Auditorium of UIN Jakarta on Friday, (18/10/2024).

In his speech entitled “The Era of Surveillance Capitalism: Navigating the Digital Economy and Diplomacy,” Gontha explained that capitalism is an economic system that owns and operates the means of production, distribution and trade with the main purpose of making a profit.

Gontha explained that capitalism is not an intrinsically good or bad system. He highlighted that government policies are instrumental in determining the direction of capitalism, both for the benefit of the public and a handful of capitalism cronies who tend to widen social inequality. Capitalism is positive when it creates sustainable economic opportunities and employment, but crony capitalism creates a huge gap between the wealthy and the rest of the population.

Then, Gontha highlighted the importance of economic freedom in driving the nation's progress, talking about countries with greater economic freedom. According to him, economic freedom has the potential to bring progress, “If we are a country with a strong economy, then we will be able to compete at the global level,” he added.

Lastly, Gontha emphasized that the era of surveillance capitalism has opened up a new phase in the global economy that is heavily influenced by technological developments that change the way businesses operate and interact. Technological phenomena such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and blockchain are pillars in the current digital economic transformation.

Check out the live streaming recording via the YouTube channel at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/live/TBhKYNo68Vk?si=eF1zSeXaFXCD_ulM

(Shely Nurloka/Fauziah M./Dzihan Aufa Kilmi Firdausi/Photo: Adib Taufiqur'Rachman, Hermanudin)