November 5, 2025
JAKARTA – Arecent viral post on social media depicting nonconsensual street photography has exposed the lack of awareness among photographers and the public of the need to respect privacy and consent before capturing, storing and selling images, with critics fearing ignorance may harm the protection of personal data.
After going for a run with his wife one Saturday last month in Palembang, big data consultancy Drone Emprit founder Ismail Fahmi posted three images on X showing street photographers capturing joggers along a road with a few passing cars.
The post has gained nearly 13 million views since it was posted on Oct. 26, stirring debates over whether these photographers should have asked for permission before taking any pictures, especially when they sell their work online.
“It was not an arranged event. But there were so many photographers out there,” Ismail told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Such scenes are all too familiar in numerous cities across the country. One example is in Jakarta, where uninvited photographers are often seen taking pictures at Car Free Day events or on regular days in the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Central Jakarta or in Tebet Eco Park in South Jakarta.
They often sell their works on mobile application FotoYu, developed by Jakarta-based artificial intelligence (AI) startup PT Super Giga Generasi. It connects photographers and users, whose photos and videos are stored in its database.
On that day, Ismail decided to purchase a picture of him and his wife for Rp 16,900 (US$1.02) from the platform.
A popular platform with over 1 million downloads on Google Play Store, many photographers earn new income through FotoYu, mostly by taking pictures at sports or cultural events.
“But it feels as if everyone wants to be photographed and have their photos sold,” Ismail added. “We can’t opt out.”
More than candid shots
Beyond the candid shots, many people have started to worry about the possibility of their photos being misused, such as being sexually objectified or manipulated for online fraud.
FotoYu allows its users to purchase images only after they undergo strict facial verification, which creates unique biometric information.
For those requesting to buy, FotoYu’s AI system, RoboYu, will detect images that resemble their biometric to prevent other users from browsing or purchasing photos that do not belong to them.
Even so, many people have revealed on social media about the system’s loopholes, with some saying their gallery often contains unfamiliar faces.
One user is Anjani, a private company worker from Depok, West Java who found pictures of strangers in her gallery.
“At first, I didn’t really care if random photographers took pictures of me without my permission,” Anjani said on Sunday. But after she learned more about the importance of keeping personal data secure, she began to worry.
PT Super Giga Generasi was not immediately available to answer the Post’s request for comments.
Responding to public concerns, the Communications and Digital Ministry warned photographers that taking and publishing photos must comply with the legal and ethical obligation of protecting personal data, particularly those identifiable images of individuals.
“Photos showing someone’s face are considered personal data and may not be distributed without permission,” director general for digital monitoring Alexander Sabar said in a statement last week.
He said that every form of personal data processing, from collection, storage to distribution, must have a clear legal ground, including by obtaining unambiguous consent from the subject.
“There should be no commercialization of photographs without the consent of the person photographed,” he said, adding that the ministry would summon representatives of photographers and FotoYu to strengthen their legal and ethical awareness.
Lawyer and photojournalist Anton Bayu Samudra said that such concerns were justified, as many photographers in the country still lack a proper understanding of privacy and consent.
“So don’t let those photos be abused by irresponsible parties, either photographers or any platforms.”