Digital Surveillance and the Right to Privacy: A Comparative Study between Indonesia and the European Union
Keywords:
Digital Surveillance, Right to Privacy, Personal Data Protection, Comparative LawAbstract
The rapid expansion of digital surveillance technologies has intensified the tension between national security interests and the protection of individual privacy rights. This article examines the legal frameworks governing digital surveillance and the right to privacy through a comparative study of Indonesia and the European Union (EU). Employing a normative juridical approach with comparative legal analysis, the study reviews constitutional provisions, statutory regulations, judicial decisions, and international human rights instruments concerning data protection and state surveillance. The findings reveal that the European Union has established a comprehensive privacy regime through the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and robust judicial oversight, ensuring that surveillance measures comply with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality. In contrast, although Indonesia has strengthened its regulatory framework through the Personal Data Protection Law and electronic information legislation, significant challenges remain regarding institutional oversight, transparency, accountability, and effective legal remedies against unlawful surveillance. The study argues that Indonesia can enhance its digital governance by adopting a rights-based surveillance framework inspired by the EU model while accommodating its constitutional values and national security concerns. This comparative analysis contributes to the growing discourse on digital constitutionalism, privacy protection, and the development of balanced surveillance governance in the digital era.
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