TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Communication and Informatics Minister Rudiantara asserted that he will not hesitate to shut down Facebook's operation in Indonesia if the social media giant is proven to bring negative influences towards the country and its society.
"If the case that happened in Myanmar where the Rohingya case occurred because of Facebook [happens here], therefore I have no hesitation to shut them down from Indonesia! The one I am looking after is the Indonesian people," said Minister Rudiantara at the Sam Ratulangi University in Manado on Friday, April 13, 2018.
Rudiantara argued that the Indonesian public's vulnerability in relation to the post-truth phenomena will have an adverse effect considering the low literacy of its people compared to other countries such as the United States and European countries.
Post-truth phenomenon is a condition where objective facts have little to no effect in constructing public opinion compared to personal beliefs and emotions. Under this conditions, actual facts must compete with hoaxes in gaining public trust.
Rudiantara revealed that he has communicated with representatives of Facebook in Indonesia in regards to the 1.1 million Indonesian user data breach. "Facebook said that Cambridge Analytica has been shut down," said Rudiantara.
Despite the report from Facebook, the government has requested apps that run on Facebook to be shut down too.
When asked about the government’s official deadline for Facebook, Rudiantara said that it is not just a problem related to Cambridge Analytica, but the government's concern is to prevent similar incitements that happened in Myanmar from taking place in Indonesia.
"Both have been our consideration. I could have easily shut Facebook down but I am still taking into consideration of the people that use Facebook as their source of income," Rudiantara said.
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