Bareskrim to Intensify Cyber Patrol ahead of Regional Elections
17 October 2017 20:28 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police`s Criminal Investigation Corps (Bareskrim) will intensify its cyber patrol to anticipate negative contents on social media ahead of the upcoming 2018 Regional Head Elections.
“Hatred speech is common in every political agenda,” director of cybercrime unit Brig. Gen. Fadil Imran said during a seminar in Jakarta on Tuesday, October 17.
According to Fadil, cybercrime is associated with regional elections, national security, and issues that are often twisted on social media.
Fadil admitted that arresting hatred speech perpetrators and hoax disseminators had not provided deterrent effects.
“Enforcing laws is difficult because the public would see it as an anti-democracy act. In addition, it can also deteriorate public trust in police institution, if it is handled improperly,” he said.
Fadil revealed that based on data from the Cybercrime Unit, there were 117 hatred speech cases occurred during the Jakarta Gubernatorial Election. Following the arrests of Saracen members, the number of hatred speech cases decreased to 48 cases.
Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara confirmed that the number of negative contents declined after the Saracen group was shut down. However, the minister called on relevant institutions to anticipate hatred speech practices ahead of the 2018 Regional Head Elections.
ARKHELAUS WISNU TRIYOGO