TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) Director, Ade Wahyudin, on Friday said the hacking against Tempo.co is a legal violation and asserted that hacking is different to criticism coming from activists and journalists.

“Criticism is definitely permitted and natural in the context of Indonesia, however, hacking is a legal violation,” said Ade Wahyudin to Tempo on Friday, August 21.

The legal aid director said there are available mechanisms to deal with news reports that may be considered false or have caused discomfort for the news subject, which are by submitting the right of reply or filing a complaint to the Press Council.

“Legal violations and criticism must be distinguished as the two are a stark contrast,” Ade asserted. “I think this was done by someone who doesn’t like a piece of news reported by Tempo. That is why they took the practical way through hacking, which is actually a law violation.”

He explained that the authorities can use Article No.18 of Law No.40/1999 overseeing the Press and legal violations for those who go against the law to hamper the work of journalists.

Just minutes past midnight earlier today at 00:40, the homepage of Tempo.co website was ‘defaced’ with a message that reads “Stop hoax, don’t lie to Indonesian citizens, return to the correct journalistic ethics that abides by the press council. Don’t base it depending on who pays.”

Relate coverage:

Tempo Editor in Chief Condemns Hacking; Deems it Attempt to Silence Journalism

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