IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – State Intelligence Agency (BIN) supports the revision on the Information and Electronics Transactions Law (ITE Law) No. 11/2008.
“Cyberspace indeed needs an ethical climate in communication to avoid seeing the freedom of one individual violates other people’s freedom,” said BIN Deputy VII, Wawan Hari Purwanto, in an online discussion on Wednesday, March 10.
The data from the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII) throughout 2019 and 2020 showed that internet users reached 197.7 million people. Out of the large number, said Wawan, some users have yet to optimize the digital platform wisely.
Based on Microsoft digital survey in 2020, Indonesia ranked 29th out of 32 countries with most disrespectful social media users. Indonesia even topped the list in Southeast Asia.
“Without us realizing it, the freedom of expression and criticism that was initially protected have shifted into slander, defamation, doxxing, up to hate speech,” said Wawan.
The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy fears that the rampant hateful expressions will eventually disrupt society and in a distant case could spark genoside.
Despite the series of complaints and controversies related to the ITE Law, Wawan believes that the existence of the law is still relevant to repress potential digital propaganda.
He said that the law must be able to balance the freedom of expression and establishing a healthy digital realm.
DEWI NURITA
