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Cyber police help prevent smear campaigns
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A man on a motorcycle passes a banner encouraging public participation in the 2017 regional elections in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Sept. 27. Elections will be held in 101 regions across the country on Feb. 15. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he Jakarta Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) is collaborating with the Jakarta Police's cyber crime division to monitor social media platforms to prevent smear campaigns during the campaign period for next year's Jakarta gubernatorial election.
Bawaslu can only monitor social media accounts registered with the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) as stipulated in the Regional Elections Law, Jakarta Bawaslu chairwoman Mimah Susanti said on Monday. Bawaslu will monitor candidates' campaign teams and look out for sectarian remarks related to tribal affiliation, religion, race and societal groups (SARA) issues.
"Bawaslu will focus on monitoring registered accounts. Should any unregistered accounts use SARA issues during the campaign period, we will coordinate with the Jakarta Police to investigate," Mimah told The Jakarta Post.
The campaign period for regional elections runs from Oct. 28 to Feb. 11. Three tickets are contesting the Jakarta gubernatorial race: incumbents Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat; former education and culture minister Anies Baswedan and businessman Sandiaga Uno; and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the eldest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and seasoned city bureaucrat Sylviana Murni.
Meanwhile, information technology expert Ruby Alamsyah said there were sufficient regulations to prevent smear campaign, such as the Criminal Code and the Electronic Information and Transactions (UU ITE) Law. The Jakarta Police have also been monitoring social media.
"To maximize the monitoring of social media platforms during the campaign, strong collaboration between Bawaslu and the police is needed. Public reports would also help the city fight smear campaign on social media," he said. (rin)
