

Papuan journalist Victor Mambor targeted by a bomb attack
The Alliance of Independent Journalists noted that West Papua is the most dangerous region for journalists in Indonesia.

Six Southeast Asian journalist organizations collaborate to safeguard press freedom
The regional conference was themed “Strengthening collaboration, defending press freedom in Southeast Asia”.

Indonesia adopts new criminal code that undermines press freedom
Indonesia’s new code imposes prison terms of up to three years for insulting the country’s president or vice president.

Indonesia: Draft criminal code contains 19 articles that could criminalize journalism
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has identified 19 articles in the draft criminal code of Indonesia that could criminalize the work of journalists. If passed, these new provisions could stifle press freedom ahead of the 2024 elections.

Indonesia’s new draft criminal code restrains political dissent
Despite protests, Indonesia’s Parliament has received a new draft of the Criminal Code that threatens to further chill political dissent and civic participation.

Indonesia: Ministerial Regulation 5 threatens to restrict press and internet freedom
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) warns that the Ministerial Regulation 5 contains provisions that “can be misused by the government to internally control the media.”

Indonesian journalists face a wave of harassment and intimidation
The Committee to Protect Journalists has cited several incidents of harassment and intimidation targeting local journalists in Indonesia.

Indonesia: Regulations will severely impede internet freedom
Civil society groups urge Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Information to immediately repeal Ministerial Regulations 5 and 10, which could exacerbate existing challenges for freedom of opinion and expression in the country.

Social media companies are failing local communities on content moderation
ARTICLE 19 reports on how weak content moderation of social media platforms can transform them into hotbeds of ‘disinformation’, ‘hate speech’, and discrimination.

Indonesia: AJI chairperson targeted in hacking and disinformation attacks
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in Indonesia has described the hacking and disinformation attacks against its chairperson Sasmito Madrim as a threat to press freedom and freedom of expression.

Indonesia: Covid-19 response overshadows rights
According to a Human Rights Watch report, the basic rights of religious minorities, women and girls, and LGBTQI+ communities in Indonesia continued to come under attack during 2021 with little government response.

Indonesian court allows internet blocking amid social unrest
Media groups warn that the ruling, which reversed an earlier decision declaring internet shutdowns as illegal, makes it difficult for journalists to report on conflict or spread relevant information.

Indonesia: Ministerial Regulation 5 will ‘exacerbate’ freedom of expression restrictions
ARTICLE 19 highlights its concerns regarding Indonesia’s Ministerial Regulation 5, which governs the functioning of private electronic systems operators.

Global coalition urges Indonesia Minister of ICT to repeal MR5
Several groups have sent an open letter to Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology calling for the review and repeal of Ministerial Regulation 5, which was passed in 2020 containing regulations for private “electronic systems operators”. The letter said the rules undermine digital rights.

Indonesia urged to suspend and revise new internet regulation
Human Rights Watch said Indonesia’s Ministerial Regulation 5 is “a tool for censorship that imposes unrealistic burdens on many digital services and platforms.”

Indonesia’s proposed online intermediary regulation may be the most repressive yet
The internet regulation introduced in November 2020 by the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) seeks to tighten the government’s grip over digital content and users’ data.