Jokowi Wants ITE Law To Be Revised, BEM SI Asks Police To Be More Selective In Investigating Reports

JAKARTA - President Jokowi ordered his staff to prepare changes (revisions) to Law Number 19 Year 2016 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions (UU ITE). This is because a number of articles in the ITE Law are considered to have many catchall articles.

Responding to this, the Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI) asked the police to be more selective and not arbitrary in responding to complaints or reports regarding violations of the ITE Law.

"BEM SI demands that the National Police be more selective in responding to reports of violations of the ITE Law and to act firmly in upholding the rule of law," said BEM SI Central Coordinator Remy Hastian in his statement, Monday, February 22.

Remy views the ITE Law as having a catchall article so that it ensnares many activists and critical partner groups or those who are opposed to the government.

One of them was the arrest of activists who criticized the government regarding the Omnibus Law on Employment Creation. In fact, according to Remy, the ITE Law should have the aim of educating the nation's life

"BEM SI also urges the government together with the DPR to revise the catchall articles of the ITE Law so that there are no multiple interpretations. So that it is in line with the principles of democracy," he said.

Presidential spokesman Joko Widodo (Jokowi) Fadjroel Rachman ensured that if the revision of Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions (UU ITE) was carried out, the government would accommodate the aspirations of the community.

"Of course efforts are made so that the public can provide input. So that the latest (ITE Law, red), if there is a change, will really accommodate all criticism and input," said Fadjroel.

In addition, the government will also conduct a legal audit of articles deemed problematic in the law and make improvements to academic papers.

"So, (ITE Law, red) is in accordance with the principles of law, justice, legal certainty and benefit, and in accordance with the principles of our constitution," he said.