Results Of Police Cyber Patrols Looking For Hoaxes And Insults To The President During A Pandemic

Ilustrasi foto (Markus Spiske / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The number of crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic is claimed to have decreased significantly. On the other hand, there are several sectors of crime that have actually experienced an increase, including the spread of fake news or hoaxes and insults to the president.

It is undeniable that various kinds of hoaxes are also circulating on social media. Starting from the occurrence of crimes in an area to the spread of COVID-19 which seems increasingly out of control.

Not long ago, there was fake news like an appeal saying that in the Cideng area, Central Jakarta, people were hanging around blocking vehicles to take money from motorists. In fact, it is said that they acted with sharp weapons.

The news or information was firmly denied by the Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Yusri Yunus. According to him, the news is just a figment. Because, so far there has been no action or activity as informed.

"Nothing. So far, conditions are still normal," Yusri told VOI, Thursday, April 9.

The emergence of fake news or hoaxes has increased the number of cases circulating in the jurisdiction of Polda Metro Jaya. Based on existing data, 43 fake news occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the dozens of cases of hoax spreading, only a few have been successfully uncovered. For this reason, the police are increasingly conducting cyber patrols to monitor and prevent fake news from appearing.

"In total 17 cases have been disclosed, during COVID-19," said Yusri.

Why?

The rise of hoaxes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was commented on by University of Indonesia criminologist Ferdinand Andi Lolo. Based on his point of view, there are two main factors that trigger the emergence of fake news.

First, it relates to the prankster nature of someone who deliberately wants to create anxiety or worry in society. Then, more structurally, is the intention to corner the government over what is going on in the hope of chaos.

"There are various motivations. Some are just for fun without thinking about the legal consequences and the emergence of fear in the community. Or it could also be to discredit the government," said Ferdinand.

Then, the widespread spread of hoaxes was due to the lack of information obtained by the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, they also pass it on to others with the aim of providing information. In fact, the truth of the news was not confirmed yet.

Preventive measures by promoting cyber patrols are one of the steps taken by the police. However, Ferdinand considers the need to add a deterrent effect by applying harsh penalties for perpetrators in emergencies such as the current outbreak.

"The threat of punishment needs to be heavier, given the situation in an emergency," said Ferdinand.

Providing a deterrent effect on the perpetrators of spreading fake news by intensifying this sentence is in line with the Head of Police's Telegram letter concerning Guidelines for the Implementation of Duties and Functions of Criminal Investigation (Reskrim) number ST / 1100 / IV / HUK.7.1. / 2020.

The content of the guidelines regulates the implementation of criminal penalties related to the dissemination of information deemed to be false in cyberspace or online.

Insult

In addition to confirming criminal hoaxes, the guideline also deals with the punishment of people who insult the president and other state officials. This one point is a problem. Many people consider this criminal law against the democracy that is currently being built in this country.

Especially in a crisis situation like this, where the government has to make important decisions. Escort and criticism are indispensable. And this article, however, is vulnerable to being used by the authorities to silence critical attitudes of the people.

One criminal case occurred in the Riau Islands. A worker with the initials WP (29) in the Kampung Bugis sub-district, Tanjung Pinang, was arrested. He is considered to have insulted President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) for uploading memes on Facebook social media. The police assessed that the meme could lead to hostility by individuals or groups from certain groups.

Head of Riau Islands Regional Police Public Relations Commissioner Harry Goldenhardt said, based on the results of the investigation, the perpetrator admitted that his reason for uploading the meme was to insult Jokowi's leadership. "The intent and purpose of the perpetrator is to make jokes by insinuating the performance of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. And according to the perpetrator's initial statement that there is dislike of the President of the Republic of Indonesia," said Harry.

WP was charged under Article 45a paragraph (2) junto Article 28 paragraph (2) RI Law number 11/2008 on ITE and / or Article 208 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code with a maximum imprisonment of 6 years. Unfortunately, there is no data regarding the action against the spread of fake news or hoaxes at the national level after the police chief's Telegaram letter was issued.

Karo Penmas DivHumas Polri Brig. Gen. Argo Yuwono, when confirmed on this matter, also said that if he was still looking for and examining the number of cases that had occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Check it first," he said.