TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Social media expert Nukman Luthfie believes that blocking Telegram is a good strategy to stop terror contents from spreading in a short term.

In a long term, the policy is not deemed strategic because the benefits of the messaging application and social media outweigh the negative impacts, he said.

"In terms of terror, negative contents, I prefer educational measures and law enforcement. Not though blocking," Nukman said on Saturday, July 15.

Read: Govt Blocks Telegram Websites Due to Misuse: Minister

For the record, Communication and Information Ministry on Friday ordered Internet Service Provider (ISP) to disconnect access (block) eleven Domain Name System (DNS) belonging to Telegram because of evidence indicating that the app is used to support terrorism.

Furthermore, Telegram was also ordered to formulate a standard operating procedure to handle radicalism contents as a requirement to cancel the blocking.

In relation to this, Nukman expressed that Telegram has every right to reject the government’s demand. He explained that the messaging app provider prioritizes the users’ privacy more than anything.

Telegram is also blocked in Russia, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

ANTARA