LBH Says PayPal Blocking Until Steam By Kominfo Unlawful

The Ministry of Communication and Informatics has blocked eight PSE unregistered sites and applications. (Muhammad Adimaja-Antara)

JAKARTA - The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) stated that the blocking of eight sites and applications by the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) violated the law.

The blocked sites and applications include PayPal, Yahoo, Epic Games, Steam, Dota, Counter Strike, Xandr.com, and Origin (EA). The blocking is carried out on the grounds of not registering as an electronic system operator (PSE) for a private scope until the specified time.

"LBH Jakarta assesses that the blocking of internet sites and applications carried out by Kominfo is a violation of the law by government agencies and/or officials because they have violated Kominfo's legal obligations to ensure compliance with Human Rights Standards and Mechanisms in the implementation of electronic systems in Indonesia," said LBH Jakarta lawyer, Teo Reffelsen, quoted in a written statement, Monday, August 1.

Teo considered, restrictions on internet sites and applications must meet the requirements at least based on those stipulated by law, carried out in a democratic society, public order, public health, public morals, national security, public safety, rights and freedoms of others, there are legitimate purposes. , and it must be demonstrated that such restrictions are proportionately necessary.

Therefore, the blocking as stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Number 5 of 2020 concerning Private Scope Electronic System Operators is carried out arbitrarily because it does not have legitimacy in accordance with the standards and mechanisms of human rights restrictions.

"These restrictions and blocking have given birth to authoritarianism that uses digital power in order to control technology as a tool to protect interests, so blocking or shutting down internet sites and applications that do not meet the restrictions is an act that can never be justified," explained Teo.

Furthermore, Teo urged Kominfo to revoke the decision to block the eight sites and applications in order to stop the impact of heavy losses on citizens. Teo also asked Kominfo to revoke Minister of Communication and Informatics Regulation Number 5 of 2020.

"This regulation regulates human rights restrictions that are not in accordance with international human rights standards and mechanisms, violates freedom of opinion and expression, violates the right to communicate and obtain information and violates the right to privacy," he concluded.