BNPT-Kemkomdigi Take Down 180,954 Radicalism Content On Social Media, Most On Instagram

Illustration of the use of smartphones in daily life. (Unsplash-Angela Franklin)

JAKARTA - The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) cut off access and lowered 180,954 social media content (medsos) containing radicalism, intolerance, and extremism during 2024.

Head of BNPT Police Commissioner General Eddy Hartono said the content was affiliated with various terrorist networks, such as Islamic State Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Jamaah Asharut Daulah (JAD), Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), and Jamaah Asharut Tauhid (JAT).

"It is dominated by the propaganda of terror networks affiliated with ISIS, HTI, JAT, and JAD," said Eddy in a press statement at the end of 2024 in Jakarta, Monday, December 23, which was confiscated by Antara.

The use of social media Instagram recorded the highest number with 86,203 content, followed by Facebook with 45,449 content, and TikTok with 23,595 content.

In addition, there is also X / Twitter with 9,535 content, WhatsApp with 8,506 content, Telegram with 4,751 content, and online media with 3 content.

Eddy revealed that the use of Telegram is widely used by extremist groups and terrorists to spread propaganda.

This is because the platform allows the creation of groups with unlimited number of members.

"We have coordinated with Digital Communication, including by Telegram in the context of punished immigrants, we can enter Telegram," he explained.

According to him, monitoring of content on the platform is important because Law Number 5 of 2018 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism states that planning for evil acts can already be punished.

BNPT also mapping areas prone to radicalism and terrorism. However, his party has not been able to announce this matter because it is still confidential.

"However, this is because it is confidential, it cannot be announced. This is for ourselves to take preventive steps. We have data everywhere that are considered vulnerable," he concluded.