Tempo.co Website Hacking Considered as Attack on Press Freedom

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The recent hacking of Tempo.co website gathered much criticism. Although the hacking only lasts for a few hours, the action is considered to be a part of restraint against the press and confirms the continuous repression of freedom of expression.

The hacking, which takes the form of the defacing of Tempo.co homepage, occurred on August 21, 2020, at around 12:44 AM Western Indonesia Time (WIB). The perpetrator breaches into Tempo.co website server and changes the display of Tempo.co homepage with a message.

During the incident, Tempo.co homepage was turned into a black screen with a writing that says: "Stop Hoax, Jangan BOHONGI Rakyat Indonesia, Kembali ke etika jurnalistik yang benar patuhi dewan pers. Jangan berdasarkan ORANG yang BAYAR saja. Deface By @xdigeeembok." (Stop Hoax, Do not LIE to the Indonesian people, Return to the journalism ethics obey the press council. Not based on PAYING INDIVIDUALs. Deface by @xdigeeembok).

When clicked, the homepage will redirect users to X@digeembok Twitter account. In Twitter, the owner of the account made a tweet with the hashtag #KodeEtikJurnalistikHargaMati at 12:51 AM WIB.

The incident was not the first hacking conducted in the recent past. Several activists and experts such as Pandu Riono had also experienced a similar incident. Criticisms was raised against the action, some of the most noticeable criticisms were:

1. LBH Pers

Executive Director of LBH Pers Ade Wahyudin requested the Police to immediately investigate digital attack cases and hacking experienced by Tempo.co and other victims.

Ade said that people who are feeling harmed with certain reports should use their rights of reply or file a complaint to the Press Council. This is in accordance with the Press Law.

"This incident is a form of apparent disturbance and silencing, especially to the press in exercising its functions as information media and social control," Ade said.

2. SAFEnet

Executive Director of Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) Damar Juniarto asserted that the hacking of Tempo.co is an open attack against the freedom of the press.

"What happens with Tempo in SAFEnet view is an attack directly aimed at the core of the freedom of the press," Damar said.

The perpetrator, as Damar explained, wanted to put Tempo as a media that spread hoaxes and that the reports made by Tempo is not based on truth. Whereas, Damar said that such condition is in contradiction with the principles of freedom of the press that free journalism is independent journalism.

"[The hacking] is a danger for the freedom of speech and degrades the face of democracy," Damar said.

3. Human Right Working Group

The Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) also condemned the hacking against Tempo.co. The organization mentioned the action as cybercrime. The attack is also considered as a direct attack against press works, freedom of expression, human rights, and democracy in Indonesia.

"Moreover, it concerns a credible news website whose works are needed as social control and public education tools," said HRWG's Executive Director Muhammad Hafiz.

Hafiz underlined that pursuant to Article 18 of Law No. 40 of 1999, whosoever hampered the work of the press is a crim that threatens the freedom of press.

Hafiz also asserted that the incident is not merely concerning Tempo as a media company. But also involves potential violation of citizens rights to information and threats against democracy in Indonesia.

"The media is one of the pillar of democracy and human rights of a country. Ignoring cases of attacks against the media is the same as opening the way for authoritarianism," Hafiz said.

4. Amnesty International Indonesia

The violation of rights to freedom of speech and expression in the hacking action is also expressed by Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Usman Hamid. Usman asserted that the incident clearly aims at people who dared to criticize the government's policy.

"Al this time, Pandu Riono has been so loudly voiced his criticism towards the government's policy in handling the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Tempo reports highlight many political and social concerns raised in the country, including criticizing the regime in power," Usman said.

Usman then requested the government and law enforcement officials to investigate the case in a transparent, accountable, and clear manner.

"All perpetrators of the hacking must be arrested, due processed fairly and punished according to prevailing laws," Usman said.

EGI ADYATAMA