Antara, Jakarta – The coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs on Wednesday warned that social media users who disseminate allegedly false videos depicting violent protests could face criminal prosecution if authorities determine they have violated the law.
The warning came after several social media accounts circulated videos purportedly showing violent demonstrations in Jakarta ahead of Indonesia's 81st Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 17.
"We will identify the accounts involved. If there are indications that their actions constitute a criminal offense under the law, we will take firm legal action," Djamari Chaniago told a press conference in Jakarta.
The minister said the videos being circulated did not depict the current security situation in Indonesia.
"Those videos are not accurate. Nothing like that is happening in Indonesia today. They may show events from the past, but they do not reflect the current situation," he said.
Top security officials were all present at the conference, including State Intelligence Agency Head Muhammad Herindra, Armed Forces Commander Agus Subiyanto, National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin.
Djamari said the accompanying narratives appeared intended to encourage public demonstrations during the Independence Day celebrations and could create the false impression that the country was experiencing widespread unrest.
He said the security situation in Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia remained stable. "The domestic situation remains secure and fully under control," he said.
Djamari urged the public to verify information before sharing it online and to avoid spreading unconfirmed content that could mislead the public or disrupt public order.