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ITE Law won't be revised but guidelines will be issued on its use: Minister
The government says the ITE Law, which has been lambasted as stifling free speech, will not be revised, but guidelines will be issued on its enforcement.
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Rallying call: 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 deem to be a threat to the freedom of expression. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
T
he government has decided not to amend the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law despite calls, including from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, to revise the legislation that critics say is being misused to stifle online speech.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said the country still needed the law to anticipate changes in the digital world.
“We still need the ITE Law to regulate the digital world. That’s why we won’t repeal it,” Mahfud said during a press briefing on Thursday.
However, the minister added, the government acknowledged the need to slightly adjust the law to prevent misinterpretation and unequal law enforcement among security forces that often leads to the criminalization of online speech.
Read also: Stella Monica, a beauty clinic and ITE Law: The continuing saga of consumer vulnerability
To prevent such misinterpretation in the future, the government would issue a joint decree signed by the communications and information minister, the attorney general and the National Police chief.
Mahfud went on to say the decree would be a guideline for law enforcers in handling reports pertaining to online speech according to the ITE Law.
