TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Jokowi Widodo acknowledged public concerns about the limitation of the freedom of expression following the presence of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law or ITE Law. He guaranteed that the law would not curb the rights of people to freely express their opinions.

“The National Police Chief has followed up on my instructions to prioritize education and persuasive measures in dealing with ITE cases. There should be no criminalization of the freedom of expression,” said the President in his speech at the commemoration event of the World Human Rights Day 2021 held at the Jakarta State Palace, Friday, December 10.

He said the government's commitment to this matter was evident from the amnesty for Baiq Nuril and Saiful Mahdi who were convicted of violating the ITE Law.

“But I’d like to remind all that the freedom of expression must be exercised in a responsible manner to the wider interests of the community,” he added.

The head of state also acknowledged that the industry 4.0 development had prompted the government to anticipate a number of human rights issues, as well as issues on personal data protection.

“For that, I have ordered the Minister of Communication and Information and related ministries and institutions to immediately complete discussions on the Personal Data Protection Bill with the DPR so as to provide the protection of people's human rights and the certainty of doing business in the digital sector,” he underlined.

“We must build an advanced Indonesia and at the same time assure social justice for all Indonesian people,” Jokowi concluded.

Read: ITE Law Criminalization Cases Incriminating Journalists

EGI ADYATAMA