Kominfo Cancels Blocking WhatsApp In Today's Memory, November 8, 2017

Director General of Informatics Applications (Aptika) Kominfo, Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memories of today, seven years ago, November 8, 2017, the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) canceled blocking the WhatsApp messaging application. The cancellation was carried out because they thought WhatsApp had committed to eradicating pornographic content in its application.

Previously, WhatsApp had received warnings many times for eradicating negative content on its platform. The reprimand was ignored completely. Kominfo is furious and wants to block popular messaging platforms in Indonesia.

Kominfo in matters of eradicating pornography on various media platforms is never left behind. The business of blocking pornographic sites has become a characteristic. Kominfo likes to play a moral police role. This condition has been going on for a long time, from changing ministers to new ones.

Kominfo also targets any platform that contains pornography indiscriminately. WhatsApp was also investigated. Kominfo found many of WhatsApp's GIF (image format) services that smelled of pornography.

This problem is considered to be able to damage the morale of the nation's children. All because the GIF of pornography can be accessed by anyone. The Ministry of Communication and Information does not want the problem to drag on. Kominfo takes a stand. The intention to clean up is done.

The main strategy is to send a warning letter to WhatsApp. The letter was sent on November 5, 2017 and November 6, 2017 (early this morning and early in the morning). There was no reply. This condition made the Kominfo furious. They think WhatsApp has no good faith.

Kominfo also acts to threaten WhatsApp. They want to block WhatsApp so they know themselves. WhatsApp should limit access so that pornographic content does not spread and disturbs many people. WhatsApp was asked to reply 2x24 hours aka the deadline until November 8, 2017.

"Whatsapp can't let go of hands, we have to do cleaning or blocking. Otherwise, we will 'telegram'. We don't want it to be like that. We hope they respond. Otherwise, we must be firm. Many Indonesians protest negative content, if not obeyed, Wassalam. We have blocked others," said the Director General of Informatics Application (Aptica) Kominfo, Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan quoted on the Tempo.co page, November 6, 2017.

Kominfo's desire to finally get a response according to the deadline. WhatsApp responded to a warning letter on November 8, 2017. WhatsApp then immediately communicated with Kominfo by inviting a third party who incidentally provided GIF services.

WhatsApp's good faith was appreciated by Kominfo. As a result, WhatsApp was not blocked. The cancellation made WhatsApp immediately ask third parties to eradicate GIF with certain words. The goal is that WhatsApp users stay away from pornographic matters.

The business with WhatsApp is also resolved. Kominfo began to appeal to other applications to act the same. In particular, Twitter, which is considered a suggestion for negative content, is scattered. Kominfo also tried to send a warning letter.

"We communicated with the WhatsApp mediated tenor. For the Tenor application that is connected to the WhatsApp application to search for keywords that are prohibited in our Law, it is no longer accessible. Thus, the existing provisions that provide a deadline of 2x24 hours have been fulfilled," added the Director General of Aprtika Kominfo, Semuel, quoted by the CNN Indonesia page, November 8, 2017.