Spreading Victims Images on Social Media only Support Terrorists

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In a matter of hours following the Kampung Melayu suicide bomb attack, images and videos of the aftermath recorded by bystanders quickly went viral on social media. Horrific images and video recordings show human body parts that were scattered around the vicinity of the Kampung Melayu bus station.

Is it ethical to do so? Do the people who spread the content violate the law?

An expert on legal and press ethics Wina Armada Sukardi stated, “the people who blindingly spread these types of information only helps the terrorists spread fear and increases the power of these terrorists,” he said on Thursday, May 25.

He further explained that these types of behavior shown by society will only preserve terroristic activities.

Meanwhile, if the society would just stop spreading images of victims or the aftermaths of terror attacks, terrorists would lose the purpose of conducting their acts.

“This is why we shouldn’t give the terrorists the upper hand. How we spread information regarding terroristic acts should be deregulated and reorganized,” he said.

The government, according to Wina, has not shown much effort to prevent negative uses of devices used to spread information that could disserve the public.

“So far, the government only reacts when it affects the interests of the people in power. Such as closing down radical and pornographic websites,” he explains.

Wina hopes that the government would provide a thorough education which is systematic and massive regarding the uses of technology.

S. DIAN ANDRYANTO