Deny Using Buzzer, Presidential Spokesman: The Government Is Not Afraid Of Being Criticized, Before Criticizing Study The ITE Law

Spokesperson for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Fadjroel Rachman (Photo: Setgab.go.id)

JAKARTA - The spokesman for President Joko Widodo, Fadjroel Rachman claims that the government does not own and employ buzzers or voices on social media.

This is in response to the public's response which claims they are reluctant to criticize President Jokowi for fear of being attacked by buzzers and being snared by the Electronic Transaction Information Law (ITE).

"The government doesn't have a buzzer. My social media is also being attacked 24 hours by buzzer. Just use the block feature, that's fine," Fadjroel told reporters on Thursday, February 11.

The government, said Fadjroel, was never afraid to face criticism of society. Because, according to Fadjroel, criticism is a right that animates democracy, as long as the criticism does not lead to hate speech.

"The government is never afraid of criticism. Criticism is the heart of democracy. But before criticizing, learn how to criticize from the press and study the ITE Law," he said.

Fadjroel continued, what the government hired was influencers, not buzzers. An influencer is a person who influences a number of other people to say something.

Moreover, said Fadjroel, influencers owned by the government are only related to handling COVID-19 and tourism promotion by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf).

"Influencers or related to COVID-19 and vaccinations are free and free as a form of mutual cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic. The influencers used by the Ministry of Tourism are official and legal for branding and awareness," explained Fadjroel.