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.
Indonesia: New law hurts workers, indigenous groups
In response to the omnibus bill, street protests immediately broke out in more than three dozen cities, with police arresting hundreds of protesters and physically assaulting or destroying the equipment of at least 28 journalists.
Indonesia: Disturbing series of assaults on journalists
The International Federation of Journalists and the Alliance of Independent Journalists expressed concern over reports that several local journalists were harassed and attacked across Indonesia.
Indonesia: Media organisations targeted in digital attacks for COVID-19 reporting
At least four media organisations have been targeted in digital attacks for publishing critical stories about the government’s COVID-19 response.
Melanesia: New report highlights increasingly hostile media environment
A new report published by the “Pacific Journalism Review” highlights threats against media freedom in the Melanesia region, particularly in Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and West Papua.
Indonesia: YouTube censors live stream on homophobia and religion
The live webinar ‘Exploring non-homophobic religions’ was interrupted on 24 June after users reported the webinar for breaching community guidelines. Many are asking if it reflects an algorithm bias against LGBTQI+ content or whether it was initiated by conservative groups in Indonesia.