Safeguarding indigenous rights in the age of AI

Jakarta—Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world with astonishing speed, transforming sectors from agriculture and health to education. But as we race toward this digital future, a critical question emerges: For whom is this future being built?

While AI promises efficiency and innovation, for indigenous peoples and local communities, the future is not just about algorithms: It’s about recognition, protection, and dignity.

As the global community marked the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on Aug. 9 with a focus on AI this year, we must confront a pressing reality: For indigenous communities, this technology can be a double-edged sword. It offers potential for empowerment, yet also poses new threats to their existence.

For Indonesia, the challenge is clear: How do we ensure that our digital transformation upholds, not overrides, the rights of those who have long safeguarded the nation’s ecological and cultural heritage?

In many parts of the country, indigenous peoples are still perceived as remnants of the past; isolated, outdated, and disconnected from modern life. This could not be further from the truth. Indonesia’s indigenous communities have long demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, especially in preserving forests, managing biodiversity, and responding to climate change.

The Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago estimates that the country is home to between 50 million and 70 million indigenous peoples and local communities representing over 1,300 ethnic groups. These communities speak hundreds of languages and maintain diverse customary systems to manage natural resources.

Despite their contributions to sustainability and food security, many of these communities remain excluded from formal governance. Indonesia is a signatory to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, but the government often argues the term “indigenous” is not applicable, as all Indonesian citizens, with a few exceptions, are native to the archipelago.

This narrative erases the specific histories of marginalization experienced by self-identified indigenous groups, and it also weakens efforts to protect their distinct land tenure systems, cultures, and governance institutions.

The potential of AI to support indigenous communities should not be dismissed. The technology can be used to document endangered languages, map customary lands, and strengthen indigenous leadership in climate action. Properly designed, AI tools could help elevate the voices and stories of communities that have long been marginalized.

Yet these opportunities come with serious risks. Without inclusive governance and ethical safeguards, AI can entrench inequality. Algorithms might misrepresent indigenous cultures, strip traditional knowledge from their context, or allow companies and governments to extract data without consent.

What we are witnessing is a digital form of colonialism, where control over data, identity, and culture is once again removed from communities and placed in the hands of others.

First, the government must pass the indigenous peoples bill to guarantee collective rights, including land tenure, cultural protection, and data sovereignty. Second, it must ensure the meaningful participation of indigenous peoples in policymaking around digital governance and AI, not just as subjects to be consulted but as equal partners. Third, it must recognize that customary law and indigenous knowledge are not barriers to development: They are essential pillars for a pluralistic and democratic society.

Local initiatives already offer promising models. In several provinces, regional regulations and village decrees have formally recognized indigenous territories, which have helped communities secure their boundaries and strengthen their legal standing.

When indigenous peoples have the legal space to thrive, they innovate on their own terms.

To build a fair digital future, inclusive collaboration is essential. Government bodies, tech developers, researchers, indigenous organizations, and civil society must cocreate AI systems that respect cultural rights and serve local needs.

Lastly, indigenous peoples are not obstacles to progress. They are partners in building a future that is not only technologically savvy, but also socially responsible and ecologically sound.

Today, let us mark indigenous peoples day not as a ceremonial observance, but as a moment for reflection and action. If we are to build a truly intelligent future, it must begin with the wisdom of those who have protected and continue to protect the Earth, long before algorithms existed. The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network

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Moch Yasir Sani is a program manager at the Partnership for Governance Reform (Kemitraan). Elis Nurhayati is CEO of Daya Data Komunita and currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy with a specialization in climate change at the International Islamic Indonesian University (UIII).

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The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a member of the Asia News Network, an alliance of 22 media titles in the region.