Kominfo Denies Issues Can 'Peek' Conversations On WhatsApp After Registering PSE, Here's The Explanation

Director General of Aptika, Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Samuel Abrijani Pangerapan (Photo: Doc. Kominfo)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Information denies issues related to Permenkominfo 5/2020 which is said to be able to "peek" at conversations after PSE registers.

Kominfo said that Permenkominfo 5/2020 concerning Private Scope Electronic System Operators and its amendments (PM Kominfo 5/2020) did not authorize the Ministry of Communications and Informatics to freely access public private conversations.

The Director General of Information Applications at the Ministry of Communications and Informatics also said that Kominfo does not have access to monitor conversations on any platform.

"Once again and I have said many times, we cannot see personal data or monitor conversations, not monitoring things like that," Samuel explained at a press conference held on Sunday, July 31.

According to him, viewing and storing other people's personal data is not arbitrary and the party or institution requesting it must have the authority first.

"If there are law enforcement officers or agencies that have the authority, if there is an incident and want to reveal a crime, all of that can be done. But those who request data must have the authority first," he explained.

Furthermore, Kominfo stated that the regulation on granting access to electronic systems and documents in PM Kominfo 5/2020 can only be carried out for the purposes of criminal law enforcement, and supervision, with strictly regulated conditions.

Among other things, it must include a court order, and a legal basis of authority when applying for access to PSE, in accordance with the provisions of Law no. 8 of 1981 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code and Law no. 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions.