Jakarta, 18 April 2026 – Master of Communication Science Program of Universitas Tarumanagara organized an academic forum titled “Public Communication and Consumer Protection in the Era of Digital Economy and Communication” on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The event served as a strategic discussion platform, bringing together academics and practitioners to examine the challenges of consumer protection amid increasingly complex digital transformation.
The event was officially opened by the Dean of Fikom Untar, Dr. Sinta Paramita. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the importance of public communication in building a healthy and equitable digital ecosystem.
“I hope this academic forum will not only serve as a space for discussion but also generate concrete ideas and solutions to strengthen consumer protection in the digital era. Public communication must act as a bridge that fosters transparency, trust, and public empowerment,” said Dr. Sinta.
The forum featured a keynote speaker, Heru Sutadi, Chairman of the Communication and Education Commission of the National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN). In his presentation, he highlighted that consumer protection in Indonesia is grounded in five key principles: benefit, justice, balance, security and safety, and legal certainty, as stipulated in Law Number 8 of 1999.
Heru emphasized that consumer rights encompass fundamental aspects, ranging from the right to safety and comfort, the right to accurate and honest information, to the right to compensation in cases of loss. He also noted that consumers have obligations, including acting in good faith and understanding product information before making transactions.
Furthermore, he underscored the significant changes brought about by the digital era. According to him, digitalization is not merely a technological shift but a transformation of societal structures as a whole.
“The digital era has drastically changed consumer behavior—from advertising to reviews, from offline transactions to e-commerce, and from cash payments to digital payments. This brings both opportunities and systemic risks,” Heru explained.
He also warned of various risks faced by digital consumers, such as online fraud, data breaches, misleading products, and digital manipulation through dark patterns. Recent cases in Indonesia, including illegal online lending and data leaks, demonstrate that consumer protection still faces serious challenges.
In this context, Heru stressed the importance of public communication as a strategic instrument.
“Public communication plays a crucial role in consumer education, building trust, and reducing information asymmetry between businesses and consumers,” he stated.
He also highlighted the need for strategic measures, such as revising consumer protection regulations to better adapt to digitalization, strengthening national digital literacy, enhancing supervision, and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
The academic forum concluded with a reaffirmation that consumers in the digital era must become informed, critical, and empowered individuals. In line with this, public communication is positioned as a key element in creating an effective and sustainable consumer protection system.
Through this forum, Fikom Untar once again reaffirmed its commitment to contributing relevant academic insights to current societal issues, particularly in navigating the evolving dynamics of the digital economy and communication landscape. (LI)