Government Limitation on Social Media Access

Indonesian government has limited the use of social media to stop the widespread sharing
of false news, manipulated videos and pictures following the violent post-election riots that
started from Tuesday night, 21 May 2019. The riots erupted in several spots in Jakarta,
concentrated in Thamrin area, Central Jakarta and Slipi, West Jakarta. This temporary crackdown
on social media was confirmed by Indonesian Chief Security Minister, Wiranto in a press
conference. Wiranto cited the Bill of Act on Electronic Information and Transaction (UU ITE/Law
No 11/2008) as the legal basis for the government to enforce the restrictions.

Limiting access to social media doesn't defuse the problem. Some people using Wi-Fi
or mobile data services through a virtual private network (VPN) software to bypass the
restrictions. We argue that banning social media, especially at a time when some citizens need
to use it to express their disappointment
with the election result or support for the winner, is hurting citizens’ right to freedom of
expression. Not only that, but it can also limit the reach of much-needed verified information
from journalists to the general public, harming press freedom in the process. Social media
restrictions could also limit the press’s ability to listen and gather information from different
sources, angles and perspectives. Limiting information also means limiting the press’s capacity
to check on information and find “the truth”.

Many indonesian users that using social media to communicate with their community or friends
to access an information has got difficulties to send photos, videos and voice messages through
the service, especially via WhatsApp, which one of Indonesia’s most popular chat apps. Limiting
access to social media hampers the public’s ability to access information and at the same time to
share information with their social networks. During a situation involving protests or riots, people
need to be able to exchange and update information.

Social media currently is also used as a source of money, such as online shop. If the
government restricts social media, it may hamper the online shop to taking orders and promoting
their shop.

We believe the decision is not in line with article 28 F of the Constitution of the Republic of
Indonesia 1945 which guarantees the citizens’ freedom to communicate and obtain information.
The restriction is also against Article 19 of the Human Rights Declaration which states that
everyone has the right to seek as well as receive and impart information and ideas through any
media. The government should not consider all social media users will spread the content of the
Action on May 22. For us, social media users in Indonesia are plural or diverse. Indeed there are
those related and some that are not related to the Action on May 22. Therefore, the government
should respect the public's right to receive information. As we know today, social media has
become a part of people's lives.

In the era of disinformation, people also need trained fact checkers to verify information for
the public. The best one for the job is a trained journalist. Another way to fight disinformation is
to keep publishing credible information until the public gets the whole picture. The public must
be kept informed and updated. This approach needs collaborative action between mass media
organisations, communities and individuals.

Social media, like any other communication channel, are just another tool. It is the people
who use social media that determine whether their uses are bad or good. And society can now
search for correct and not information .Social media allow people to have private conversations
with friends, family and etc. Not only that, social media has emerged as a new public sphere, a
place to express an opinion or political support. What Indonesia needs more is credible
verified information from journalists spread widely to the public. So, we disagree if the
government restricts social media, because it may violate public rights to obtain or acquire
information openly.