Govt mulls revocation of cyber crimes bill

The government is mulling an option to withdraw the information technology crime bill if it appears to spark “massive rejection” from the public.

Communications and Information Ministry spokesman Gatot Dewa Broto told The Jakarta Post on Thursday the government could just amend the existing 2008 Law
on Information and Electronic Transaction (ITE) and incorporate articles on cyber crimes into the legislation.

However, he said revocation would be the last option as the drafting of the bill was still in the process.

Gatot refuted a call from critics on the government to include cyber crimes in the criminal code bill.

The information technology crime bill is in the list of draft laws to be deliberated at the House of Representatives between 2010 and 2014. It has been a subject of controversy, with media activists warning the bill will put freedom of speech at risk.