Cyber Police Monitor Provocative Accounts Post 2019 Election

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police's cybercrime directorate carried out social media patrols since the election day on April 17, until this morning, April 18, to monitor accounts considered spreading provocative contents related to the voting result.

Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said that provocation increased by 40 percent following the polling day to around 30-40 accounts from previously at 10-20 accounts.

“There are many accounts spreading contents, either in written, photos, videos, or sound recording, that inviting people to act against public order, establish a mass event,” said Dedi in his office, South Jakarta, on Thursday, April 18.

Those contents provoked people to stage a protest against the quick count results released by several pollsters. “That’s not only spread via Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook but also via Whatsapp group,” Dedi added.

He went on to say that the police had coordinated with the Cyber and National Encryption Agency (BSSN) and Communication and Informatics Ministry to shut down dozens of accounts posting provocative posts.

Besides the monitoring, police also identified the accounts’ owner. “If they still spread provocative contents, we will take legal action as our last move,” Dedi stressed.

ANDITA RAHMA