Jokowi Spokesman: If The Revision Of The ITE Law Is Carried Out, The Government Will Accept People's Aspirations

President Jokowi (DOK. SETKAB)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) Fadjroel Rachman confirmed that if the revision of Law No. 19/2016 on Electronic Information and Transactions (UU ITE) is carried out, the government will 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 an online discussion broadcast on YouTube, Thursday, February 19.

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.

This is an important concern because the right to opinion, constitutional rights are important things to protect. So that, in the future, people can do criticism without fear for the progress of democracy.

"Democracy without criticism is like a grave. It is quiet and there is no progress," he said.

As previously reported, President Jokowi had mentioned the revision of the ITE Law. This was conveyed by him at the TNI and Polri Leadership Meeting at the State Palace, Jakarta on Monday, February 15.

During the meeting, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta asked the National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo to be careful in handling reporting using the ITE Law. Jokowi also said that if the ITE Law was deemed unable to provide justice to society, the government would propose a revision of the law which is often considered to be restricting freedom of opinion.

"If the ITE Law cannot provide a sense of justice, yes, I will ask the DPR to jointly revise this law. This ITE Law. Because this is where the upstream went. The upstream is here. Revision," said Jokowi in front of him. the TNI and Polri Rapim participants.

"Especially removing rubber articles which can have different interpretations. Those that are easy to interpret unilaterally," he added.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD, via his Twitter account @mohmahfudmd, said the government would hold discussions regarding the initiative to revise this law. This also answers public concerns with the existence of the rubber article in the ITE Law.

"If now the law is deemed bad and contains rubber articles, let's make a new resultant by revising the law. How good is it, this is democracy," wrote Mahfud.