Communications and Informatics Ministry Explains Tumblr Ban

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Communications and Informatics Ministry (Kemenkominfo) has responded to the overwhelming protest especially by netizens in relation to the discourse to ban Tumblr.

Via a short message received by Tempo, Wednesday, February 17 2016, Kemenkominfo’s Head of Information Center and Community Relations Ismail Cawindu tried to clarify the information circulating among Indonesian citizens, which he said was conflicting.

“On this opportunity we would like to reiterate some important points, especially regarding Tumblr,” said Ismail.

Ismail explained that the Panel for Pornography, Child Abuse and Internet Security has held a meeting and has found pornographic content in 477 reported websites, including Tumblr.

Pornographic content was not found in all Tumblr accounts. However, it is impossible for the operator and Internet Service Provider (ISP) to block every individual account.

“Therefore, we ask Tumblr to adjust their content to be in accordance with the values of the community and the applicable regulations,” said Ismail. Kemenkominfo has also send a letter to Tumblr to do self-censorship on pornographic content against the accounts using the service.

The Panel, said Ismail, will hold further meeting to evaluate the effectiveness of the agreement. The results of the agreement will be submitted to the Communications and Informatics Minister as a consideration in making the decision.

“I hope it could clarify the false reports that Communications and Informatics Minister has decided to block the websites suggested to be blocked by the Panel,” Ismail said.

ARIEF HIDAYAT