Govt to Fine Platform Having Pornographic Content; Twitter Reacts

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Twitter Indonesia has opened up about the brand-new policy that stipulates a fine starting Rp100 billion against Electronic System Providers (PSE) displaying pornographic contents on its platform.

“[We] continue to socialize and coordinate with Kominfo (Communication and Informatics Ministry),” said the social media giant provider’s chief representative and head of public policy Agung Yudha in Jakarta, Tuesday, December 11.

Agung claimed there are still further discussions related to the new policy, which was passed last October, especially on its impact and administrative consequences.

Government Regulation No. 71/2019 on the implementation of electronic systems and transactions noted the enactment of fines starting from Rp100 million if there is found pornographic content on electronic platforms, including social media.

Kominfo Ministry will impose a fine of Rp100 million per content against platform displaying prohibited contents mandated in the Indonesian law such as pornography and gambling.

The ministry’s director-general for applications and informatics Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan said early December that the severe sanctions will be made into effect immediately since electronic platforms can automatically detect such negative content.

As for other negative content such as hate speech, the ministry will give time for the PSE to review and follow-up the content. If they pass the set deadline, the government will impose a fine or administrative sanction up to block it until the content is dealt with.

The policy noting the fine of Rp100 million against people spreading pornographic content will be valid in October 2020. The government is disseminating the regulation to social media platforms including Twitter.

ANTARA