Henri Subiakto, who heads the government's working team on the law’s amendment, said the government and the House of Representatives had completed discussions on 33 points in the problem inventory list for the draft revision. 

"We just have to complete eight more points in the problem inventory list," he said in a discussion at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday. 

The House was forced to delay the completion of its revision of the 2008 ITE Law because House Commission I, which oversees information and communications, must first complete the screening process for the new Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) commissioners.

Among key articles on the problem inventory list, which have already been discussed, include the ones on criminal charges for defamation. 

Although the government and House legislators have agreed to reduce prison terms for defamation to less than five years, both parties still have differences of opinion on the matter.

The government has proposed a four-year sentence for those involved in online defamation while the House has not yet proposed a specific prison term for the crime.

The current 2008 ITE Law stipulates a maximum sentence of six years in prison for people charged under Article 27. Article 27 states that people can be criminalized if they deliberately distribute, transmit or create accessible electronic information or documents containing slanderous or defamatory language. 

Despite strong criticism from activists over its potential to violate free speech, it is likely the government and the House will pass the draft revision, which upholds the controversial article on online defamation. (ebf) 

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