[COMMENTARY] Creating a safe cyberspace for everyone

Endy Bayuni
The Jakarta Post

PREMIUM

Jakarta / Sat, February 27, 2021 / 02:17 pm

[COMMENTARY] Creating a safe cyberspace for everyone

Members of the Corruption Eradication People’s Committee rally outside the State Palace on Jan. 8, 2019, to demand that the government abolish articles in the Electronic Information and Transaction (ITE) Law they deem to be a threat to freedom of expression. (JP/Seto Wardhana)

To revise or not to revise the cyber law? Alas, that is not the question. The real question is, how far-reaching do we need to revise the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law? The answer is, astronomically. The information technology landscape has changed vastly since 2016, when we last revised the ITE Law. We have learned now that the internet, particularly social media, is no longer safe as we become increasingly dependent on it in our daily lives. The cyber law, in its current iteration, has become inadequate to protect users against many forms of abuse. And some of the abuse, including widespread disinformation, has led to real-life injury and even deaths. We welcome the government’s initiative to open a debate on whether to revise the law and which articles need revising. The final decision rests on the House of Representatives, but some political parties ar...