SEAPA member AJI Indonesia held a discussion on Internet governance
prior to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Bali in October 2013,
and concluded that the country's Internet laws are in need of reform.
Case in point: Wahyu Dwi Pranata, a student at Dian Nuswantoro University (Udinus), Semarang, Central Java, who was forced to leave his studies for writing an article criticizing university policy. University authorities deemed Wahyu's article to be defamatory of his campus. His article was submitted to the online news portal Wawasanews on 23 December 2013.
Wahyu had already been summoned several times by the rector of the university, yet he continued to write. After writing a piece titled "You Robbed Billions from Us and You Treat Us as Paupers" in his blog, the university called his parents. He was given two options: be charged with defamation based on the Electronic Transaction Information Act (ITE Act - UU ITE No. 11/2008), or resign from the university; in other words, be expelled from campus.
But long before Wahyu's case, a number of bloggers had been charged under the same Act for indictment of defamation. The Internet certainly allows society to exchange information quickly and in real time, but often without sufficient understanding of the impact of information dispersion.
Between Cyber Freedom and the Threat of Criminalization
The question is, how and who will govern, guarantee, and protect the safety of citizens amidst this unprecedented freedom of information and data exchange in cyberspace? How and who will protect personal data, and who will safeguard freedom of expression within the borders of ethics and tolerance?
In line with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and to receive information. The Internet is an information highway, be it useful or junk information - and includes insults, hate speech, and even news that triggers conflicts.
AJI sees a necessary balance must be maintained between the rights to express, to have opinions, and to access information, while prohibiting hate speech and war propaganda. Nevertheless, the boundaries set have to adhere to permissible restrictions acknowledged by the international community.
Link from : https://www.ifex.org/indonesia/2013/10/30/internet_policy/
Case in point: Wahyu Dwi Pranata, a student at Dian Nuswantoro University (Udinus), Semarang, Central Java, who was forced to leave his studies for writing an article criticizing university policy. University authorities deemed Wahyu's article to be defamatory of his campus. His article was submitted to the online news portal Wawasanews on 23 December 2013.
Wahyu had already been summoned several times by the rector of the university, yet he continued to write. After writing a piece titled "You Robbed Billions from Us and You Treat Us as Paupers" in his blog, the university called his parents. He was given two options: be charged with defamation based on the Electronic Transaction Information Act (ITE Act - UU ITE No. 11/2008), or resign from the university; in other words, be expelled from campus.
But long before Wahyu's case, a number of bloggers had been charged under the same Act for indictment of defamation. The Internet certainly allows society to exchange information quickly and in real time, but often without sufficient understanding of the impact of information dispersion.
Between Cyber Freedom and the Threat of Criminalization
The question is, how and who will govern, guarantee, and protect the safety of citizens amidst this unprecedented freedom of information and data exchange in cyberspace? How and who will protect personal data, and who will safeguard freedom of expression within the borders of ethics and tolerance?
In line with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and to receive information. The Internet is an information highway, be it useful or junk information - and includes insults, hate speech, and even news that triggers conflicts.
AJI sees a necessary balance must be maintained between the rights to express, to have opinions, and to access information, while prohibiting hate speech and war propaganda. Nevertheless, the boundaries set have to adhere to permissible restrictions acknowledged by the international community.
Link from : https://www.ifex.org/indonesia/2013/10/30/internet_policy/
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