Optimizing the Role of Notaries in Increasing Legal Certainty and Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce Transactions

The rapid development of electronic commerce (e-commerce) demands more optimal legal protection for consumers, especially in terms of legal certainty, transaction validity, and dispute resolution. However, the role of notaries in protecting e-commerce consumers is still ineffective due to limited regulations and the less-than-optimal implementation of digital notaries (cyber notaries). The study aims to analyze the role of notaries in protecting consumers in electronic-based commerce using legal research methods that combine conceptual and comparative approaches, secondary data analysis, and focus group discussions with stakeholders. The study results reveal that notaries have four primary roles in the e-commerce ecosystem, namely providing legal education to consumers, facilitating the creation of legally valid electronic agreements, protecting consumer personal data, and acting as mediators in resolving digital transaction disputes. The research implies that strengthening the role of notaries in e-commerce can increase consumer trust in digital transactions and strengthen the position of notaries as public officials who play a role in ensuring legal certainty in the digital economy. Therefore, policy reforms are needed that support the empowerment of notaries in electronic commerce to produce a safer and more trusted e-commerce ecosystem.