Jokowi's Promise To Revise The ITE Law Is Doubtful

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) plans to revise Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions (UU ITE). Revisions are proposed because the ITE Law is considered to have many catchall articles.

His ranks, such as Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Minister of Communication and Information Jhonny G. Plate, and National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo will also follow up on Jokowi's wishes. However, it is doubtful that Jokowi's promise will come true.

"I still doubt that the government is serious about revising the ITE Law," said a political analyst from Exposit Strategic, Arif Susanto in a webinar discussion, Friday, February 19.

There are several problems that make Arif considers Jokowi not serious in his efforts to revise the ITE Law. First, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology will prepare a guideline for interpreting the articles of the ITE Law which are multi-interpretative and controversial.

Unfortunately, Deputy IV of the Presidential Chief of Staff for Political Information and Communication, Jury Ardiantoro, even asked the Indonesian Parliament to propose a revision of the law.

"It appears that the government itself has not yet had one voice. These signals are confusing. So, I doubt that the government is serious, because the Palace alone does not share the same vote with the minister," said Arif.

He suspects there are indications that the revised plan is part of political bartering. This is because the revision of the ITE Law is not included in the National Legislation Program which will be ratified by the DPR.

It is not impossible for Arif that there will be a compromise between the government and the DPR to cancel other proposed laws (RUUs) which are also important to discuss. It is feared that the bill that threatens the popularity of the government and the solidarity of the coalition in parliament and in government will be sidelined.

"It could be that there are political calculations that will overpower the substance of the importance of the revision to avoid the articles that have multiple interpretations," he explained.

Moreover, according to Arif, Jokowi's response to the planned revision of the ITE Law was actually a reactionary step and not an initiative of the government itself. This is because several other figures are hesitant to criticize the government for fear of being polished.

Including remarks by the 10th and 12th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla who questioned how to criticize the government without having to fear being arrested.

"I see that the president's statement is reactionary. It is surprising that the government is managed in a reactionary way. The government should be planned. It has a design, does not move sporadically. This means that for me the revision of the ITE Law is not a priority for the government," he concluded.