Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) has issued a warning to the incoming administration of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, highlighting eight potential legacies that could be passed down from President Joko Widodo's government.
M. Hafizh Nabiyyin, Head of SAFEnet's Freedom of Expression Division, outlined these concerns during a press conference titled "Transition Process and Inauguration of Prabowo-Gibran" at the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) office in South Jakarta on Friday, October 18, 2024.
According to SAFEnet, the potential legacies include criminalization and restrictions on freedom of expression, intentional internet slowdowns aimed at silencing dissent, and the blocking of educational and government-critical websites.
"SAFEnet records show that at least 723 individuals have been reported to the police under the controversial Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law), mostly under defamation charges," Hafizh said.
Other concerns that could carry over to the Prabowo administration include content censorship, inadequate commitment to personal data protection, digital attacks targeting activists and journalists, and online violence and discrimination, including gender-based abuse.
Hafizh argued that these issues reflect the government's failure to respect and protect its citizens, warning that such shortcomings are likely to persist under Prabowo's administration, which has pledged continuity from previous policies.
Nonetheless, SAFEnet urged the new government to respect citizens' rights and halt alleged digital attacks by state authorities.