Thumbs Up, Virtual Police Not Only Monitor Medsos, Your WhatsApp Is Also Glared

Virtual police start operating on social media (Photo: Business Insider)

JAKARTA - The headquarters (Polri) stated that the virtual police not only supervise social media accounts (medsos) but are targeting the Whatsapp short message application. This monitoring is to prevent negative content that smells of hoax or SARA.

"Don't think, ah, if we slander people, spread hatred, if we use certain platforms it's safe," said Head of Public Relations Division of the National Police, Kombes Ahmad Ramadhan to reporters, Friday, March 12.

In monitoring, enforcement of violations does not only rely on virtual police. This is because the wider community can also report if they find indications of criminal violations.

Later, the police will follow up on the report. If a violation is found, the police will send a warning message.

"For example, yes, there is in the group (Whatsapp), then someone reports to the police, he takes a screenshot. Then the account is tracked," he added.

It's just that, under surveillance of the Whatsapp account the police will not tap cellphones. The officer will only send information so as not to commit a criminal offense. "We are not tapping, we are monitoring this. So there is no word bugging," he said.

Previously it was reported, around 125 social media accounts were observed to have violated Electronic Transaction Information (ITE). However, only 89 accounts have been reprimanded.

Meanwhile, the rest did not receive a warning. The reason is, based on expert information and data, the upload of the account does not fulfill a criminal element.

"This means that the content fulfills hate speech so it fulfills the elements. While 36 content does not pass, it means that it does not lead to hate speech," said Ramadhan.

Meanwhile, the virtual Police is a follow-up to the Chief of Police Circular (SE) General Listyo Sigit Prabowo numbered: SE / 2/11/2021 Concerning Ethical Cultural Awareness to Create a Clean, Healthy and Productive Indonesian Digital Space.

In the SE, the National Police Chief requested that the handling of cases of violations of the ITE Law prioritize restorative justice efforts.