Posting Hate Speech For Pilkada, Babel Bawaslu Reports 2 Social Media Accounts

The Babel Islands Province Bawaslu gave a press statement regarding the implementation of supervision during the 2024 Pilkada campaign period. (ANTARA)

PANGKALPINANG - The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province submitted an application to the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) to close two TikTok accounts containing elements of hate speech against one of the participants in the 2024 Governor and Deputy Governor of Babel Election.

The head of the Babel Province Bawaslu, EM Osykar, said that the application for the closure of two TikTok accounts containing hate speech was the result of surveillance of cyber patrols by the Babel Province Bawaslu supervisors.

"Indeed, the contents of the content have fulfilled the elements of hate speech, and we propose that BSSN be closed immediately," he said.

Osykar suspects that the account contains elements of hate speech or violates Article 28 paragraph (2) of the ITE Law. This article states that everyone intentionally and without rights disseminates information aimed at causing hatred or hostility to certain individuals or community groups based on ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup (SARA).

"This is an article allegedly violated by the social media account. So, an action will be taken to close by coordinating and collaborating directly with BSSN and Kominfo (Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs) who have full authority over the proposal," he said.

He appealed to the accounts of candidate pairs registered with the KPU not to carry out campaigns containing elements of hate speech, hoaxes, and SARA.

For account violations registered with the KPU, he said, if proven to have violated, they would immediately be dealt with by the Bawaslu of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province. Not only is it an element of hate speech, but it can also include alleged election violations.