Can property agents edit listing photos in Indonesia?

Our reading as of , from the sources below. Not legal advice.

Short answer

Fixing exposure, color and angles is fine. Changing what the property looks like is risky: the advertising code doesn't accept digital imaging that changes a product's real condition, and Rumah123's terms allow no edits except adding a logo.

  1. Camera fixes are fine: exposure, color, straightening and cropping.
  2. The advertising code (Etika Pariwara Indonesia) doesn't accept digital imaging that changes a product's real condition, and the consumer law makes breaking that code an offense for advertisers.
  3. Rumah123 allows no edits except adding a logo, and its photos must be real, not 3D.

What Retouch Homes does in Indonesia

On by default, no label
Straightening, leveling and cropping. Exposure and color come next.
Planned
A new sky. When it ships it stays off until you turn it on, and then we label the photo and keep the original. It isn't allowed on Rumah123.
We don't do
Staging, landscape changes and removing fixed features.

Edit by edit

Exposure and color in Indonesia

No label

No rule names camera fixes, and they don't change the property's condition.

Source 1, 2· our reading, no rule names it

Straightening and lens in Indonesia

No label

Straightening fixes the camera, not the property.

Source 1, 2· our reading, no rule names it

Cropping in Indonesia

No label

Fine for framing, as long as it doesn't hide the property's condition.

Source 1· our reading, no rule names it

New sky in Indonesia

Unclear: label it

No rule names the sky. The consumer law requires honest pictures, so label it. Rumah123 doesn't allow it.

Label text
Photo digitally edited.

Source 1, 4· our reading, no rule names it

Grass and landscape in Indonesia

Not allowed

Adding grass or greenery changes the property's real condition, which the ad code doesn't accept.

Source 2, 3· our reading, no rule names it

Removing clutter in Indonesia

Unclear: label it

No rule names it. Label it. Rumah123 doesn't allow it.

Label text
Photo digitally edited.

Source 1, 4· our reading, no rule names it

Removing fixed features or surroundings in Indonesia

Not allowed

Removing fixed features changes the property's real condition, which the ad code doesn't accept.

Source 2, 3· our reading, no rule names it

Virtual staging in Indonesia

Not allowed

Staging shows the home in a condition it isn't in, which the ad code doesn't accept, and Rumah123 doesn't allow 3D or edited photos.

Source 2, 4, 5· our reading, no rule names it

Day to dusk in Indonesia

Unclear: label it

No rule names it. Label it. Rumah123 doesn't allow it.

Label text
Photo digitally edited.

Source 1, 4· our reading, no rule names it

AI-generated image in Indonesia

Unclear: label it

Developers may market unbuilt projects with accurate images. For an existing home, label any generated image as an illustration.

Label text
Illustration, not a real photo.

Source 3· our reading, no rule names it

Label text to copy

Photo digitally edited.

No Indonesian rule sets wording. In Indonesian: "Foto telah diedit secara digital." Rumah123 allows no text on photos except a logo, so put it in the description.

Portal and MLS rules

Rumah123
Uploaded photos may be edited only to add a company logo. Photos must be of the property on offer, and its listing guide says photos must be real, not 3D. Source 4, 5

The rule, word for word

“…rekayasa visual (digital imaging) yang merubah kondisi asli produk…”

In English: “visual engineering (digital imaging) that changes the product's real condition”

Dewan Periklanan Indonesia, Etika Pariwara Indonesia (2020 amendment), note to 1.12. Our summary above isn't binding; the source is.

Questions agents ask

Can I edit house photos before posting them on Rumah123?

Only to add your company logo, according to Rumah123's advertiser terms. Its listing guide also says photos must be real, not 3D.

Does virtual staging need a label in Indonesia?

No rule names staging. The advertising code doesn't accept imaging that changes a product's real condition, so staging an empty home is risky even with a label.

What does Indonesia's consumer protection law say about misleading ads?

Law 8/1999 bars offering goods with false or misleading claims, and advertisers may not break the advertising ethics code.

Can I replace the sky in a house photo in Indonesia?

No rule names it. Label it if you do. Rumah123 doesn't allow edits other than a logo.

Sources

  1. Law No. 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection (UU 8/1999), Articles 9, 10 and 17, JDIH BPK · April 20, 1999 · primary source · checked November 6, 2026
  2. Dewan Periklanan Indonesia, Etika Pariwara Indonesia (2020 amendment), note to 1.12 · primary source · checked November 6, 2026
  3. Government Regulation No. 12 of 2021 (PP 12/2021), Article 22B, JDIH BPK · February 2, 2021 · primary source · checked November 6, 2026
  4. Rumah123, Syarat dan Ketentuan Pengiklan · primary source · checked November 6, 2026
  5. Rumah123, Hal-hal yang Perlu Diperhatikan Seputar Listing di Rumah123 · March 9, 2025 · primary source · checked November 6, 2026

Our reading as of November 6, 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change, so check the sources before you rely on them. See all markets.