Indonesia amends controversial internet law
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Indonesia’s House of Representatives has passed amendments to the controversial Electronic Information and Transactions Law to reduce penalties and set more clear definitions.
The strict law lays out tough penalties including jail time for online defamation and “online intimidation,” and has provoked controversy on multiple occasions due to its use to stifle what is seen as legitimate speech.
The new amendments set a definition of what constitutes defamation to prevent a loose interpretation of the law.
Additionally the revisions reduce jail time for defamation to four from six years, and for online intimidation to four from 12.
The amendments also introduce a “right to be forgotten” – giving courts the ability to request the deletion of certain online information.
In terms of enforcement the revisions include new regulation governing how state authorities should investigate internet-related crimes, and synchronize procedures on confiscation, seizure, arrest and detention with Indonesia’s criminal law.
Questions & Answers
Q.What are the main changes introduced by the amendments to Indonesia's internet law?
What are the main changes introduced by the amendments to Indonesia's internet law?
The amendments aim to reduce penalties, clarify the definition of defamation, and introduce a 'right to be forgotten'. They also revise jail times for defamation and online intimidation, and synchronise enforcement procedures with criminal law.
Q.How have the penalties for online defamation and intimidation changed?
How have the penalties for online defamation and intimidation changed?
The revised law reduces jail time for online defamation from six to four years. For online intimidation, the maximum jail time has been significantly cut from 12 years to four years, making penalties less severe.
Q.What is the new 'right to be forgotten' and who can exercise it?
What is the new 'right to be forgotten' and who can exercise it?
The new 'right to be forgotten' grants courts the authority to request the removal of specific online information. This gives legal bodies the power to act on requests for content deletion.