JAKARTA (IndoTelko) - The House's Commission I asked the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Kemenkominfo) not to be careless and reckless in blocking a number of Islamic online media websites for providing radical views.
"The Ministry must assess the demand from the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) and verify it. Do not let any sites that have nothing to do with the radicalism also being blocked recklessly," said Chairman of the House's Commission I Mahfouz Sidik to IndoTelko, Tuesday (31/3).
Mahfudz said that if the blocking is not based on objective and valid assessments, then it only shows panic state, weakness, and excessive phobia.
"We do not mind websites that are affiliated with terrorist understanding and movement is blocked, we support it instead. But do not be reckless," Mahfudz said.
House's Commission I member, Zainuddin said that the discreet and closed blocking the action is similar to suppress freedom of the press.
Freedom of the press is guaranteed by Law No. 40 of 1999, paragraph 1, 'Freedom of the press is guaranteed as the rights of citizens'; paragraph 2 'Against the national press is not subject to censorship, bans or restrictions on broadcasting'; and paragraph 3 'To ensure the freedom of the press, the national press has the right to seek, obtain, and disseminate ideas and information.'
"We are trying to establish democracy and reject religious radicalism. But by banning the media, it kills freedom of the press which acts as a pillar of democracy," Zainuddin said.
Judiciary
On another occasion, the Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Internet Service Provider (APJII) Samuel A. Pangerapan admitted that some of its members had received a note from the Ministry about closing the websites under the request of the National Counterterrorism Agency on radical websites.
"We are aware, that the government has the right to use its authority in conducting anticipatory measures to maintain public order. Although the message that appears when accessing sites that are considered as negative which states the Ministry has blocked these sites, but in reality many people are asking this question to our members," Zainuddin said.
Zainuddin said that there is a list of 22 sites is indicated for terrorism content is still being debated in the community. The legal basis used to block the sites is not as clear for blocking pornographic sites as mandated in the Act 11, 2008 on Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE) and Law 44, 2008 on Pornography.
"In the future, we hope that there is a blocking system that can be centralized or carried out by a third party. Thus the ISP network can maintain its neutrality. Regarding the negative content outside of pornography, we propose that it should be determined by a judiciary body," Zainuddin suggested.
Earlier, news about the request for blocking about 22 media online which classified as radical was aired Monday (30/3).
On several occasions, the Minister of Communication and informatics Rudiantara admitted that it is easier to shut down internet access to pornography sites on the internet compared to eradicate radical movements in the virtual world that is difficult to be detected.
Rudiantara admitted to suppress the circulation of negative contents continuously coordinating with the network provider’s operators and Internet service providers OTT (over-the-top). In fact, Rudiantara has created a panel to verify the site before blocked.
Somehow for this radical site blocking, the Minister Rudiantara did not open a public consultation first. (dn)