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oint personnel from the National Police cybercrime unit and the Riau Police arrested a resident of Pekanbaru, Riau province, on Friday over alleged hate speech spread on social media.

The suspect, a 49-year-old man, was arrested in his house on Jl. Ikhlas in Payung Sekaki district, Pekanbaru. The police had for weeks been monitoring his activities on social media, Riau Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Guntur Aryo Tejo said. He was alleged to have spread hate speech through his own posts and through content such as memes on his Facebook account.

“He began to spread information containing hatred in July 2017. He also made posts protesting the government. There is also content related to ethnicity, religion and race sentiments — he pressured one ethnic group into provoking those who read his posts,” Guntur said, adding that the police had confiscated five mobile phones as evidence.

The suspect could be slapped with multiple charges under the 2016 Electronic Information and Transactions Law, the 2008 law on racial and ethnic discrimination and article 207 of the Criminal Code on defamation of the administration and institutions.

The suspect could face a maximum of nine years in prison if found guilty, Guntur said.

He also urged the public to be wise in using social media and to not share content that could stoke tension.

Hundreds have been charged under the Electronic Information and Transactions Law. Critics say the law is draconian, arguing it could limit freedom of expression, despite the government’s argument that the law could counter the rampant spread of hate speech and fake news.