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Govt to table proposed changes to draconian cyberlaw soon
The government is finalizing a draft revision of the controversial Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law that is often used to silence critics, planning to send it to the House of Representatives this week so it can start deliberating it this year.
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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 Transactions (ITE) Law they deemed to be a threat to freedom of expression. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
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he government is finalizing a draft revision of the controversial Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law that is often used to silence critics, and is planning to send it to the House of Representatives this week so it can start deliberating it this year.
The plan to revise the draconian law has been listed as a priority in the 2021 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) since September, following a push by the government as a result of public outcry. But its deliberation has still not started, pending a submission of proposed changes from the government, according to lawmakers.
Communications and Information Minister Johnny G. Plate told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that the proposed changes to the law were already at the State Secretariat and expected to be finalized at a meeting on Tuesday. He said the government was also expected to prepare a presidential notification for lawmakers to start the deliberation.
Johnny said the government expected the revision to the law would be passed this year, if not next year should policymakers fail to reach consensus before lawmakers go into recess in mid-December.
"If all political processes run smoothly, hopefully it can be deliberated this year. But if there is a delay, then hopefully it will be completed by 2022," he said.
The cyberlaw most notably contains vague provisions on what constitutes defamation on the web, provisions that have long been criticized by activists for curbing freedom of speech and silencing critics.
Johnny said the government opted for a partial revision of the law by introducing stricter definitions to eliminate any vagueness in key articles, including articles on online defamation, hate speech and obscenity.
